C’s Chat – 2023 Vancouver Canadians 2B/SS #14 Estiven Machado – C's Plus Baseball

The latest C’s Chat is with 2023 Vancouver Canadians second baseman/shortstop Estiven Machado.

The Barlovento, Venezuela native was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays on July 3, 2019 and received a $775,000 signing bonus. Machado was scouted by Blue Jays Latin American director of operations Sandy Rosario and South America scouting coordinator Francisco Plasencia after working with trainer Carlos Rios.

Even though this is Machado’s fourth year in the Blue Jays system, the 2023 campaign only marks the second full season of his career. The Athletic pointed out that Machado was to begin his pro career with the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays in 2020 before COVID cancelled the minor league season. Machado and his fellow Venezuelans were limited to video workouts and parking lot drills at their hotel in Clearwater, Florida with the Dominican Summer League coaching staff, including 2016-2017 Canadians infielder Deiferson Barreto.

The Blue Jays assigned Machado to the Florida Complex League for 2021 and he made his debut against the FCL Phillies on June 28. He caught a pop-up in foul territory from his second base position in the top of the first inning and singled to right field on the first professional pitch he saw in the bottom of the first. That was it for Machado’s 2021 season as he was sidelined with a hamstring injury right after his single, leaving the game for a pinch-runner.

Listed as Baseball America‘s breakout pick for 2022 among Blue Jays prospects, Machado went 3-for-4 in his Dunedin Blue Jays debut against Bradenton on April 8.

Other highlights were a 2-for-4 performance including a two-run triple to drive in the winning run at Daytona on May 22, a 2-for-3 effort with two walks and a game-winning RBI double at Fort Myers on July 1 and his first professional home run, a grand slam to go along with two walks and a hit by pitch against Tampa on August 14.

In the postseason with the D-Jays, Machado batted .313 with at least one hit in all four games he played. He went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly in Game 1 of the Florida State League semi-final against Fort Myers on September 13. Machado finished the year with a batting line of .263/.342/.345 with 22 extra-base hits and six stolen bases over 90 games.

Machado was assigned to Vancouver to begin the 2023 season and his first hit in a C’s uniform was a double which proved to be the game-winning RBI in a rain-shortened victory against Tri-City on April 15. That turned out to be his only hit in seven games played in April and he was assigned to the Development List from April 29 to May 7.

The month of May saw Machado record back-to-back three-hit games in his return to the lineup on May 9 and May 11 against Everett. He had a six-game hitting streak June 7-17 with an eight-game on-base string extended to June 22. Machado then put together a 14-game streak of reaching base safely from June 29 to July 23.

In August, Machado endured an 0-for-18 skid which he snapped with an extra-inning walk-off double against Spokane on August 22. He then belted his first home run of the season against Spokane on August 25.

C’s Plus Baseball caught up with Machado in between his biggest hits of the season during the homestand against Spokane in late August. Canadians mental coach Raul Pimentel was on hand to translate. This interview has been edited for clarity.

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C’s Plus Baseball – (Tuesday, August 22), you got the game-winning double in 10 innings. What a way to break out of a slump. Talk about that at-bat and what your thought process was?

Estiven Machado (as translated by Raul Pimentel) – When I saw Gabby (Gabby Martinez) hit the game-tying single, I knew the pitcher was going to try to blow me away with the fastball. I was ready for the fastball. The first pitch. I missed it. Then I was able to hit a pretty good breaking ball to get the game-winning double for the team.

CPB – What was it like to experience a walk-off hit like that?

EM – Honestly, I focused on that at-bat. It was the biggest at-bat of my life. I was super happy because I know I am having a tough season. In the previous at-bats in the game, I wasn’t able to have too much success, only a walk. Then after that, getting that game-winning double, it felt really good.

CPB – One play I wanted to ask you about a play from (Tuesday, August 22 game against Spokane). You were at second base and got a sharp ground ball that hit you where no man wants to be hit. How did you manage to stay with the ball and still make the play over to first? If anyone questioned your toughness before, they certainly don’t now.

EM – I saw the ball and I couldn’t read the line very well. I just waited for the ball to bounce and hit me in the chest. I grabbed the ball and threw it. I got the ball and it bounced off my chest. When the ball hit me, I was like, ‘I need to throw this because I don’t want that error on the boxscore.’ I need to throw that ball and figure it out after.

CPB – I know this season has been a struggle at times but how do you feel things have been going for you here overall in Vancouver?

EM – It’s been good. Thank God I’ve had the opportunity to be healthy. My first year I wasn’t healthy. I’ve been able to get through the good and bad moments. I’ve been able to execute little by little. I’ve been able to contribute to the team. If I’m not batting, I’m defending. If I’m not defending, I’m running. I can do anything. I’ve been able to be healthy. I’m just trying to contribute to the team. It has been great for me to be part of this group.

CPB – I know you’ve played second base and you’ve played shortstop. You’ve done really well in both positions. What’s it like for you playing both middle infield positions?

EM – I really like playing shortstop because I feel like I’m the leader of the team. I’m able to make a bigger range of plays and I’m able to control the game more. I feel like a leader there. I have more preference for playing shortstop.

CPB – Obviously it’s different sides of the field, but do you feel you have to make a really big adjustment preparing for playing at second base as compared to short?

EM – I think it’s easier for me to play second base. I just have to try to move my feet to second base. I think second base is a little bit easier because you have less space to cover and a shorter distance on the throws. However, the key for me in my adjustment is making sure the game that I play at shortstop, I take it to second base.

CPB – In 2021, you played just one game with Dunedin before you were injured. How was it for you coming back from your hamstring injury?

EM – I try to hydrate well and prepare well. I ask God to keep me healthy. I focus a lot on hydration. I learned a lot about hydration. It’s not only the weather. When you go to play the game, when you’re preparing for the game, make sure your muscles are hydrated so you’re able to perform in the game. It may look silly to some but it is not. I’m paying more attention to my prep and recovery. That’s what I do to get ready for the game. I stretch before the game and after the game and go to the trainers to help me stretch out and do the things I need to take care of my body. That’s been the key for me playing a couple of full seasons.

CPB – Last year in Dunedin, very similar to this year as you were on a team heading to the playoffs. What was it like playing with Dunedin and getting a chance to go to the league final last year?

EM – At the beginning of the season, we were doing well. Some guys went up (to Vancouver)—Rainer Nuñez, Gabby Martinez, Damiano Palmegiani—but it was a good team. We got to the second half, and we were able to bounce back and get to the finals. We couldn’t do it at the end but you feel very happy because you’re part of it. You’re competing every day and it’s the same thing here this year. We’re going to take the whole team back and try to win a championship here.

CPB – Have you ever been a part of a team that’s had so many comeback victories and walk-off victories?

EM – It’s been exciting. I really enjoy being a part of this team. I’ve never been on a team like this before. It’s so good to be able to know that no matter what happens in the last inning, we’re going to take energy somewhere and be able to bounce back. I’m very happy and having a lot of fun here. We’re just going to continue doing it all together.

CPB – You’re a switch-hitter. What’s it like having to try to maintain your two swings from the right side and the left side?

EM – I’ve been trying to maintain my routine. I know what’s good for me on the left and right. I know where I can feel better and where I can feel more vulnerable. I try to get the ball to the middle of the field. It’s a little complicated but we do it differently. I try to work harder every day because it’s difficult. I have to do a lot of swings to feel good. If I don’t feel good on the left, I still have to work on the right.

CPB – If you had to give a scouting report on yourself, how would you describe yourself?

EM – I would say a plus defender, a very good baserunner that can steal bases, a very good contact hitter that’s able to put the ball in play and very soon, a power hitter too, and I’m going to hit a couple of homers. I’m working on that. (Editors Note – this was just before Machado hit his first home run in a Vancouver uniform against Spokane on Friday, August 25).

CPB – Did you have a favourite major league team or player that you liked growing up?

EM – José Reyes is a player that I used to follow a lot. I liked Toronto and I also liked Detroit because of Miguel Cabrera.

CPB – My final question, the Canadians have five different uniforms. Red, black, grey, blue, white. Do you have a favourite?

EM – For me, the blue one. I like the blue one.

Estiven Machado File

Born – October 4, 2002 in Barlovento, Venezuela.
Height/Weight – 5-foot-9, 170 pounds
Bats – Both/Right
Uniform Numbers – Wore number 47 with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays in 2021 and number 14 with the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2022.
Walkup Music – “Ve Por Tu Sueño” by Lilly Goodman.
Instagram – @em_____30