Padres: Manny Machado just needs to hit better at Petco

A closer look at Manny Machado’s first year in a Padres uniform reveals he did not hit well at Petco Park.

In what was considered to be a down year, Manny Machado still managed to hit .256 while smacking 32 bombs and driving in 85 runs. The expectations and settling into a new ten-year deal on a new team could have played a key role in Machado’s struggles.

But was it more a matter of where he now plays his home games? Machado’s .334 on-base percentage was right in line with his career .335 average. Obviously, the batting average was well below, and a look at his splits reveals that simply hitting better at Petco Park will go a long way toward Machado returning to MVP form.

Prior to 2019, the 27-year-old logged just four games at the Padres‘ ballpark in his major league career. In 78 games last year, Machado hit a miserable .219 but still hit 15 home runs while driving in 40 runs in what is commonly known as a “pitcher’s park.”

His 100 OPS+ at Petco indicates he was a league-average player there, as the batting average hampered both his on-base percentage and slugging percentages.

Looking around the rest of the NL West ballparks, there are strong reasons to believe that Machado will be successful over the course of his ten-years.

Coors Field

.390/.469/.756 line with four home runs, 11 RBI in 10 games (174 OPS+)

Dodger Stadium

.275/.326/.400 line with one home run and five RBI in 10 games (101 OPS+)

Chase Field

.303/.361/.606 line with three home runs and five RBI in nine games (155 OPS+)

Oracle Park

.242/.342/.545 line with two home runs and three RBI in nine games (158 OPS+)

It doesn’t help that he grounded in 14 double plays at home last year, but assuming the league’s proposal eventually gets approved, Machado will have a chance to improve his batting average at Petco.

After that, the rest should fall in line.