Padres News: Manny Machado Has Special Motivation Playing at Coors Field

He is very grateful to be back and healthy!

Manny Machado has already been through a lot in just these first two months of the 2023 MLB season and he is now back and playing against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field which he knows very well. Nobody saw that hairline fracture that hit Machado at a time where he was trying to find his own offensive rhythm.

Being one of the marquee names and biggest leaders on a struggling Friars squad, he then had to sit for a number of games after he went on the IL for the first time since 2014. However, now that the 30-year-old slugger has returned, he is starting to look like himself again in his past four outings as he has batted .412 to go with seven hits.

And with the Padres in the midst of an away series against the Colorado Rockies, that means that Machado has returned to the same Coors Field where he sprained his ankle back in 2022 and many thought his MVP campaign was over along with the Padres' playoff hopes.

Nothing like when Manny Machado is happy #padres pic.twitter.com/Dc6G5S4oK7

— Allison Edmonds (@aedmondstv) June 10, 2023

However, this did not seem to faze the star infielder as he connected on a two-run homer in the first inning in their Friday matchup and looked extremely happy in the moment... probably just appreciating to be back with his teammates.

The San Diego-Union Tribune's Jeff Sanders was able to detail the moment best.

"That it came at Coors Field was noteworthy, too.Not only were they 5-14 here since the start of 2021, Machado’s early MVP bid all but unraveled when his left ankle gave out beneath him at first base last June. Perhaps that was one reason he was all smiles as he rounded first base. Then again, the home run was his first since returning from the small break in his hand and his first since May 9."

(Via The San Diego-Union Tribune)

This energy must be kept for the remainder of the series!