Adam Jones Defends Manny Machado, Calls Him 'Misunderstood'

Former Baltimore Orioles teammate Adam Jones has defended Manny Machado, characterizing the star third baseman as "misunderstood" rather than the controversial figure he is often perceived to be.

Jones, a five-time MLB All-Star himself, shared his views during an appearance on the podcast "All the Smoke." He told hosts Matt Barnes and Harold Reynolds that Machado's public image does not align with his experience as a teammate.

"Obviously he gets some bad rap for some things but, that dude is awesome," Jones said on the podcast. "He’s a gamer. You can look at his games played; it’s on the back of his card. He posts up every day. Everybody’s going through aches and bruises, but he posts up."

Machado and Jones were teammates with the Orioles for several years. Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018, and Jones departed in free agency that same season.

Throughout his career, Machado has faced scrutiny for several on-field incidents. These include an instance in 2014 where he swung his bat across the infield, narrowly missing Alberto Callaspo of the Oakland A's, and a collision with Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox in 2017 that contributed to the latter's career-ending injury. Machado has since expressed regret for the incident with Pedroia, stating in 2019 that "it sucks."

Jones acknowledged that Machado has had moments that generated negative attention but emphasized his consistent presence and effort on the field. He also commented on Machado's "flashy swagger," which included wearing distinctive chains during games, a trait that contributed to his public persona.

When Reynolds questioned Jones about his interactions with Machado, referring to him as a "knucklehead," Jones reiterated his belief that Machado is "misunderstood." Jones attributed some of Machado's behavior to his upbringing in Miami and his early career success, noting, "You just gave him $5.5 million. I would have turned up too."

Jones described his experience playing with Machado as straightforward, highlighting his exceptional talent as the third overall draft pick. "All you need to do is keep him focused. That’s it. I’m not going to police this guy," Jones stated.

Since joining the San Diego Padres, Machado has reportedly worked to shift the narrative surrounding his career. He has taken on a leadership role within the team and has been instrumental in mentoring younger players, such as Fernando Tatis Jr., who was called up in 2019.