"I thought Manny Machado went to Detroit Tigers" - Fans react to Padres superstar promoting University of Miami's fellowship for athletes

San Diego Padres superstar Manny Machado supported up-and-coming athletes by promoting the University of Miami’s fellowship for athletes.

On Tuesday, a video posted on Instagram showed Machado doing his part to gain awareness for the program, potentially ushering in a new wave of athletes.

While the video was a smashing success, some fans were worried about a minor detail in the background that might have made the video seem more like Machado had been traded to another team.

“I thought Manny went to the Tigers. I got scared for a minute,” one fan wrote.

Fans react to Padres superstar promoting University of Miami's fellowship for athletes

“Manny don’t do this to me I thought you were going to Detroit,” another fan wrote.

Fans react to Padres superstar promoting University of Miami's fellowship for athletes

“I thought buddy got traded to the Giants or Tigers for a second,” a fan wrote.

Fans react to Padres superstar promoting University of Miami's fellowship for athletes

The confusion among fans is reasonable as the University of Miami logo does resemble the Detroit Tigers and has similar colors to those of the San Francisco Giants. But beyond the confusion, some fans took advantage of the opportunity to praise Manny Machado.

“Our body Manny is in shape!” A fan wrote.

“Greatest baseball player of all time,” a fan wrote.

“That’s my Captain,” another fan wrote.

With Machado’s endorsement, the University of Miami’s fellowship program will hopefully be successful in helping future athletes achieve their dreams.

Manny Machado’s close personal ties to Miami

Manny Machado has close ties to Miami. He was born and raised in the city, eventually committing to Florida International University.

But Machado didn't get to play for his hometown, Miami Marlins. Instead, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft.

As the third-overall pick, Machado came with plenty of hype. He made his MLB debut in 2012 and played with the Orioles until he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018. After that, Machado signed the largest free-agent deal then, getting $300 million from the San Diego Padres.

Machado continues to make his home in Florida. He owns two homes in Coral Gables where he resides with his wife Yainee Alonso, sister of fellow Big Leaguer Yonder Alonso.

While Machado spends his time in Coronado, California, during the season, his ties to Florida are undeniable. With Machado firmly set as a core member of the Padres, playing for his hometown Miami team might seem unlikely.