Manny Machado is nearing the 500 home run milestone, a rare achievement in MLB. With 332 home runs, can he join the elite club? Here’s a look at his chances.
Bollywood Fever: Manny Machado is approaching a significant milestone in his Major League Baseball career: the elusive 500 home run mark.
Achieving this feat would place him among an elite group of just 28 players, with Miguel Cabrera being the latest to join the club in 2021.
As Machado sits at 332 career home runs, his journey toward this achievement is one of the most closely watched in the league.
Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports recently released a ranking of the 18 current players who she believes have a realistic shot at reaching 500 home runs.
Machado, who is tied with Bryce Harper at 332 homers, finds himself in this conversation.
Despite their similar statistics, Harper is widely seen as having a better chance to hit the 500 mark, while Machado’s odds are viewed as a 50/50 proposition.
Since joining the San Diego Padres, Machado has consistently averaged 26 home runs per season, with annual totals ranging from 16 to 32 homers.
With 36 games left in the current season and 19 home runs already under his belt, Machado is on track to meet or exceed his season average.
If Machado continues at this pace, he would need approximately seven more seasons to reach 500 home runs.
Fortunately, Machado’s long-term future with the Padres seems secure, as he signed an 11-year contract extension with the team in 2023, giving him ample time to chase this historic milestone.
Machado isn’t the only Padres player in the conversation about reaching 500 home runs.
Fernando Tatís Jr., who has already hit 120 home runs at just 25 years old, is also seen as a potential future member of the 500-home run club.
As both Machado and Tatís Jr. continue to power through their careers, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if they can join the ranks of MLB’s most prolific home run hitters.
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