By: @PadresConnect 5/31/2022
Pictured: Padres 3rd baseman Manny Machado hitting during the 2022 MLB Season. Machado hit a homerun on this swing (probably).
The people have spoken and Padres Connect has listened. In a shocking, ground breaking, and ultra original move we have compiled a list of the fan-voted 5 favorite (current) Padres players. Seriously, no one else has ever made a list of the favorite or best Padres players (probably).
Before we get into the list, it's important to note that as of 5/30/22, the Padres sit at 30-17 which is good for 2nd place in the NL West behind those pesky rivals from Los Angeles.
There are a number of reasons the Padres are off to a good start and some of those reasons are listed in this top 5! The Friar Faithful have included not only mainstays of the Padres roster, but also the surprise contributors who have enabled the competitive record thus far. So without further suspense, let's take a look!
#5: Jake Cronenworth
The man of many names: Jake from Rake Farm, Jake Cronengod, Croney, etc. His 2021 campaign did wonders for his current place amongst the heart of Padres fans seeing him hit .261, 21 home runs, and 71 RBIs on the way to his first All Star selection. Seeing a Padre under the bright lights of the all star game certainly makes our collective knees weak as we are jubilant at our players being shown off on the brightest stage. Jake has displayed consistent hitting at the plate, an above average glove on the diamond, and a dry sense of humor that many Padres fans know and love. His 2022 hasn't seen as much success at the plate; however, there's plenty of time to turn it around and the Friar fans seem to have confidence that he will.
#4: Kim Ha-Seong
More commonly known to the Friar fans as "Ha-Seong Kim" as opposed to the traditional orientation of his name, the Padres super utility infielder has captured the hearts and minds of not just fans, but players alike.
Manny Machado said about Kim last week, "He's the key to this team. He's the heartbeat of this team. Everyone loves him." And when Bally Sports reporter Annie Heilbrunn asked, "The heartbeat? Really?" Machado doubled down with "Oh yeah, 100 percent".
Given Machado's praise, it's easy to see what Kim has meant to the 2022 iteration of the Padres. Kim definitely had a window of opportunity coming into the season given the news of Fernando Tatis Jr's early season injury, and Kim seems to be doing a good job of capitalizing.
#3: Joe Musgrove
The hometown hero. It's no secret that Padres fans (all sport fans really) are hungry for a taste of homegrown athletes. So much of sports is tribalism and localized fandom. When a player from San Diego like Musgrove performs under the bright lights of Petco, we suddenly turn into the aliens from Toy Story as we collectively chant, "One of us! One of us!".
Even if we don't ACTUALLY chant "One of us!" as Joe pitches at Petco Park, it's understood. Java Joe has really performed well since being acquired back in 2020 and is currently one of the league leaders in ERA sporting a minuscule 1.86. Regardless of what happens moving forward, Joe already cemented himself as a Padres legend when he threw the franchise's first (and only) no hitter in 2021. (Peter Seidler if you're reading this, please extend Joe and give him whatever he wants. We'll pitch in $5, you know where to find us).
The hometown kid is pitching the lights out and setting records. Someone call Hollywood, we have the makings of a blockbuster here! Until then, Padres fans are hoping Joe can help deliver a championship to San Diego in typical sports movie fashion.
#2: Fernando Tatis Jr
I, for one, am surprised Fernado made the list. Is this kid any good?
Hopefully obvious sarcasm aside, Fernando Tatis Jr has been one of the main reasons the Padres have turned this entire franchise from perennial cellar dweller, to serious championship contenders. If we were comparing the Padres organization to the NBA, the friars are the Cavaliers and Fernando is Lebron James (at least an early career version of him).
When GMs and fans alike talk about "culture setting players" and "franchise guys", FTJ checks every box in every way. Not only is his play on the field excitable and dynamic, but his trademark smile and nickname of "El Niño"adds a youthful and exciting energy to him and the rest of the team. It's no surprise the power hitting, smiley, son of a former big leaguer is compared to the likes of Ken Griffey Jr and even contemporaries like Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
While Padres fans anxiously await the return of their star player, it's no secret that he is still squarely on the minds of the Friar Faithful.
#1: Manny Machado
I fear the article's thumbnail may have given it away, but it wouldn't have been tough to guess Manny being the one to head this list. As it stands, the Padres star third baseman, El Ministro de Defensa (Spanish for 'the Minister of Defense'), is leading the Padres in every meaningful offensive category from average, home runs, on-base percentage, WRC+, WAR, slugging, and more.
In the aforementioned absence of Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny has carried the proverbial load offensively when the Padres need it most. He's not just the $300 million man, he's the front man for the Padres lineup. If the Padres were Aerosmith, Machado would be Steven Tyler. And if one wanted a more San Diego spin to that analogy, if the Padres were the Beach Boys, Machado would be Mike Love AND Brian Wilson. I know what you're thinking and yes, that is some serious acclaim and yes Manny Machado has been that big for San Diego.
All in all the Friar Faithful plunge themselves into the depths of fandom just like any other fanbase. We will say, however, it's nice to have a couple amazing players to root for that give San Diego a puncher's chance of capturing that elusive first world championship.
Thank you for reading! Padres Connect exists for the purpose of providing insight, sparking conversation, and discussing the team we all love without having to pay to subscribe. We believe Padres baseball talk should be accessible to everyone and serve as a supplement to following the game we know and love. If there's a topic you'd like us to dive into please shoot us a DM @padresconnect on Twitter or send us an email to padresconnect@gmail.com.
Comments