O's call up Machado

[love_that_reefer]

Per MLBTR.com

The Orioles will select the contract of top prospect Manny Machado before Thursday night's game against the Royals, according to a team press release. Machado, the third overall pick of the 2010 draft, is hitting .266/.350/.431 at Double-A Bowie this season. The 20-year-old was regarded as the 11th-best prospect in the game according to Baseball America's preseason rankings and moved up to the #9 slot in BA's midseason rankings.

Though Machado was drafted as a shortstop and has played all but five pro games at the position (three games at DH, two games at third base), it appears as though the O's will use Machado at third. Though J.J. Hardy has struggled to a .658 OPS this season, he has a firmer grip on the shortstop position than the defensively-challenged Wilson Betemit and Mark Reynolds have at the hot corner. It's a big surprise to see Machado called up this early, though with the Orioles in a pennant race, "if we can do something that makes us two inches better to have a chance to win the last 49 games, we’re going to do it," manager Buck Showalter tells MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (Twitter link).

The early call-up will put Machado in line to be arbitration-eligible after the 2015 season (though not Super Two-eligible) and able to hit free agency after the 2018 season at age 26, according to MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith. These calculations are based on Machado remaining in the majors, which Nicholson-Smith calls "a big if."

I think they are rushing the kid. He's not going to help their pitching woes and pitching should be the main area to address. They need to be sifting through that waiver wire to find any help they can get. That said, I will be looking for any semblance of Arod who he was compared to

[hot_corner_gurl]

Of course they're gonna rush the kid. They're obviously feeling the pressure, and they believe that Machado will relieve some of that. Like you said, he's not exactly the right solution to the problem, but they'll take whatever they can get. Five and a half games back and a dead tie for the WC? My guess is that they've been having such a blowout season that they just want to ride it for as long as they can, even if that means potentially jeopardizing his potential future with them.

[love_that_reefer]

He went 2-4 with a triple in his MLB debut!

[Kingdom]

And he makes throwing from third to first look incredibly and unfairly easy.

[OrioleMagic]

Of course they're gonna rush the kid. They're obviously feeling the pressure, and they believe that Machado will relieve some of that. Like you said, he's not exactly the right solution to the problem, but they'll take whatever they can get. Five and a half games back and a dead tie for the WC? My guess is that they've been having such a blowout season that they just want to ride it for as long as they can, even if that means potentially jeopardizing his potential future with them.

This is a bit silly and I'm being nice. I'm sure everyone is pleased with Machado's first game, but if he struggles they will make adjustments. There are several other youngsters in MLB who have been called up at a very young age. The move is not that abnormal.

[Kingdom]

Showalter has done this before with young folk too.

[Kingdom]

Machado hits his first career HR.

[OrioleMagic]

and his second.

[Kingdom]

So picked up Machado yesterday.

/fist pump

[OrioleMagic]

So picked up Machado yesterday.

/fist pump

In a fantasy league?

[Mach]

Mach(ad)o Mach(ad)o man. I want to be a Mach(ad)o man.

[Mach]

In a fantasy league?

I hope so, otherwise the bar scene just got a little worrisome.

[Kingdom]

He's got money. Don't be jealous.

[HollywoodLeo]

And he makes throwing from third to first look incredibly and unfairly easy.

Still does

Must C: Manny being Manny | 04/13/2019 | MLB.com

[realmofotalk]

That said, I will be looking for any semblance of Arod who he was compared to

Well, Manny chokes at the big moments just like Arod did, so he's a perfect comparison.