Manny Machado was selected third overall in the amateur draft in 2010, behind Bryce Harper and Jameson Taillon. Albert Almora, his cousin, was drafted almost as highly in 2012.
In 86 at-bats as a high school senior, Machado hit .639 with 56 RBI and 12 home runs in 86 at-bats, with 44 of his 55 hits going for extra bases.
He blasted two home runs in the 2009 Junior Pan American Games to help the United States win its first gold medal in the event.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70661689/1344131854.0.jpg)
In the event that Machado did not sign, he had a commitment to Florida International University, but scout John Martin signed him for $5.25 million.
Between the GCL Orioles and the Aberdeen Ironbirds, he hit.306/.359/.472 in nine games in 2010. In 2011, Baseball America ranked him as the #14 prospect in baseball.
For the Delmarva Shorebirds, he went 2 for 3 with a triple in his first game of 2011.
He played only 38 games with Delmarva, hitting .276 with eight doubles and six home runs, before finishing the season with the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League.
In 101 games between the two stops, he hit .257/.335/.421 with 20 doubles, 5 triples, and 11 homers, scoring 48 runs and driving in 50.
He was one of the youngest players in high A baseball at the time, at the age of 18, and Baseball America took that into account when boosting him to #11 in its prospect rankings heading into 2012.
How Tall Is Manny Machado?
Manny Machado stands at a height of 1.91 m.