Padres News: Manny Machado Aiming for IL Return During Big Series vs NL Opponent

Friars could be getting their righty slugger back soon

The San Diego Padres have eagerly awaited the return of their superstar third baseman, Manny Machado, who has been sidelined since May 15th due to a left-hand fracture. He was initially placed on the 10-day injured list; however, the timeline has passed, and Machado is optimistic about coming back this weekend against the Chicago Cubs.

The 30-year-old star told Padres insider Kevin Acee he hopes to return this upcoming weekend. 

“Hopefully,” he said Tuesday.

“It could be tomorrow,” he said. “I could wake up tomorrow and be like, ‘I’m ready to go. Let’s go.’"

The season hasn't been smooth sailing for Machado thus far, as he has struggled with a slow start, slashing .231/.282/.372 with a career-low .654 through 40 games. However, the injury and the subsequent time off have allowed him to reset and refocus. Machado remains determined to make a significant impact upon his return to the field, aiming for a big comeback that will silence any doubts.

“I get back, I want to be 100 percent,” he said. “The hand is always something that needs to be 100 percent. I mean, I do everything with it — catch, hit, I gotta have that flick. We hit all day. Everything we do is with our hands. So you want to be able to recover quickly and be 100 percent so that that recovery is not so bad. That’s the biggest thing, is the recovery tomorrow.”

This is Machado's first stint on the injured list since 2014, a testament to his durability and resilience throughout his career. When Machado returns, he will surely be a dynamic presence in the lineup as the Padres build toward being the dominant team they plan to be.