Manny Machado isn't just a ballplayer. He's a whole mood in San Diego. When the Padres needed a spark to close out the 2025 regular season, they didn't look at the rookies. They looked at the guy who’s been the heartbeat of the clubhouse for years.
Honestly, looking at Manny Machado last 10 games from the end of the 2025 season tells a story of a veteran who knows exactly when to press the gas. People love to talk about his age—he turned 33 this past July—but the "Minister of Defense" hasn't exactly slowed down. In fact, he’s basically reinvented how he impacts a game when the stakes get high.
Breaking Down the Late Season Surge
Let’s get into the weeds. Over his final 10 regular-season appearances of 2025, Manny slashed a very respectable .304. That’s not just a "hot week." That’s a concentrated effort to secure playoff positioning.
During that stretch, he mashed four home runs and drove in 11 RBIs. You’ve probably seen the highlights of his September 28th performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He went 2-for-2 with a solo shot and another RBI before getting pulled after three innings. Why? To keep him fresh. It was a tactical move by first-year manager Craig Stammen, and it worked, even if the Padres eventually fell short in a heartbreaking Wild Card exit against the Cubs.
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He ended the 2025 campaign with a .275 average, 27 homers, and 95 RBIs. Sound familiar? It should. It’s almost a carbon copy of his 2024 production. Consistency is his middle name.
Why the Power Numbers Matter
Some critics pointed out that his home run totals have dipped slightly since his peak years.
Sure.
But look at the context.
Machado hit 27 homers in 2025. He’s now put up at least 25 home runs in ten straight full-length seasons. That’s legendary territory. He also swiped 14 bags this year. That’s his highest stolen base total since 2018. It turns out he’s actually getting smarter on the basepaths as he gets older, not just relying on raw speed—which he never really had in the first place.
The Defensive Masterclass
You can’t talk about Manny without the glove. Even in a "down" offensive stretch, he’ll save three runs with his arm alone. In that final 10-game window, his range at third base remained elite.
We saw him make a diving stop on a 105-mph grounder toward the line that saved a crucial game against the White Sox earlier in September. He makes the impossible look like a casual Sunday stroll.
The Drama and the Heart
Manny is polarizing. We know this. After the 3-1 Game 3 loss to the Cubs that ended their season on October 4, 2025, he had a bit of a "moment" with a reporter. He told them to ask better questions.
Is he grumpy? Maybe.
Is he a winner? Absolutely.
He hates losing more than he loves winning. That edge is what has kept the Padres relevant even when the roster feels like a revolving door of high-priced talent. Experts like Kyle Glaser and Mike Cameron have recently discussed on the Friar Territory podcast how the Padres need to manage his workload in 2026. They're suggesting 150 games should be the ceiling. Honestly, Manny will probably fight them on every single day off.
Comparisons to the Greats
A lot of people are comparing his career trajectory to Adrian Beltre. It’s a solid comp. Strong defense at the hot corner, 30-ish home run power every year, and a K/BB ratio that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out. Right now, Manny sits at 369 career home runs and 2,069 hits.
If he stays healthy—and he has missed 12 games or fewer in 10 of the last 11 years—he’s a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're a Padres fan or a fantasy owner, here's what you actually need to know about the current state of Manny:
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- Watch the DH Days: Expect more starts at Designated Hitter in 2026 to preserve his legs. This might actually boost his power numbers in the short term.
- The World Baseball Classic Factor: Both Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have committed to Team DR for the 2026 WBC. This means he'll be ramping up his intensity earlier than usual this spring.
- Plate Discipline: His hard-hit rate stayed at a massive 51.4% in 2025. He isn't "declining" in terms of physical ability; he's just seeing fewer strikes as teams fear him more.
Basically, the Manny Machado last 10 games showed us that he’s still the alpha in the NL West. He’s the guy who delivers the grand slam when the bases are loaded in the 8th. He’s the guy who stares down the opposing dugout after a web gem.
Prepare for the 2026 season by monitoring his spring training exit velocities. If he's still hitting the ball over 110 mph consistently, those "regression" rumors are nothing but noise. Get ready for another year of El Ministro doing exactly what he does best: dominating the diamond.