\n\tThe month of June was a disappointing one for the San Diego Padres, who lost significant ground in the National League West race. After finishing May 1.5 games back from the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego went 11-14 in June and enters July 11 games back from the Dodgers. Likewise, they are no longer in control of the final NL wild-card spot.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tSan Diego\u2019s offense has struggled to produce all season. In June, the Padres had the third-fewest home runs in the league with 28, and their 103 runs ranked the seventh-fewest in the league. Looking at a long road to get back into the playoff picture, the Friars are searching for consistent production throughout their lineup. While it was another frustrating month offensively, several hitters showed encouraging signs that could help spark a second-half comeback.\n<\/p>\n
\tRanking Padres’ Best Hitters in June<\/p>\n
\t#3 Manny Machado<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tWhile his season on the surface has been lackluster, the month of June saw Manny Machado show his value. The veteran third baseman led the team with six home runs and 16 RBIs while delivering one of the biggest moments of the month, hitting a walk-off single against the Atlanta Braves on June 23.\n<\/p>\n \n\tWhile Machado is still searching for the consistency expected of him, June showed signs that he is beginning to turn a corner. His batting average improved from .127 in May to .220 in June, while his six home runs provided much-needed power for an offense that lacks it. One area that still needs improvement is his production against off-speed pitches, as he went hitless against them last month (yikes). But while his overall season numbers remain below expectations, Machado\u2019s ability to come through in big moments still makes him an asset for a struggling lineup.\n<\/p>\n \t#2 Samad Taylor<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tSamad Taylor was promoted to the majors as a depth piece after the team officially quit the Nick Castellanos<\/a> experiment. Showcasing his versatility by playing multiple positions in the outfield, it has been his bat that has really turned heads. In 22 games, Taylor has hit .336\/.416\/.410 with a .826 OPS as he added a major spark to the padres struggling offense.\n<\/p>\n \n\tSlotting in as high as second in the batting order, Taylor\u2019s speed immediately added a different dimension to San Diego\u2019s offense as he stole six bases and tied Machado for second-most runs scored in June with 12. Although he has seen limited playing time, Taylor has already tied Jackson Merrill<\/a> and Luis Campusano<\/a> for the second-highest WAR on the team at 0.6. If he continues producing at this level, he can become a catalyst for the team’s second-half turnaround.\n<\/p>\n