SAN DIEGO (AF) - San Diego Padres' star player, Manny Machado, recently sustained a small fracture in his left hand after being hit by a pitch in a game against the Kansas City Royals. The consequent fractured metacarpal has prompted Machado to consider a career change to further display his fighting spirit: professional karate athlete. Machado's bold decision came after he binge-watched "Cobra Kai" and realized the potential his broken hand might have in delivering karate chops. When asked if he's concerned about the impact his injury might have on his new career path, Machado replied, "If anything, I think it'll just make my hand stronger once it heals." Despite having no formal martial arts experience, Machado has signed up for a local karate tournament taking place the day after his hand is scheduled to heal. Family members, teammates, and fans have shown mixed responses to his decision. Padres manager Bob Melvin expresses concern for his player's safety but admits he's excited to see how Machado's bat-wielding skills will transfer over into the karate ring. "I just hope he doesn't try to incorporate any baseball moves into his karate routine," he added, while quietly suggesting a karate-themed night at a future Padres game. Otto, a longtime Machado fan, feels optimistic about his transition into karate. "I bet he'll be great at it," he raved, adding, "Plus, it's not like he's trying to become a professional ballet dancer or something." When asked if he's leaving baseball for good, Machado said, "Well, I'm not one to give up that easily. Karate will be my side gig for now. I just need to take some time to understand the power within this broken hand." San Diego Padres fans can't quite decide if Machado's sudden interest in karate will improve or hinder the team's performance, but they're certainly keen to witness the metamorphosis of one of baseball's top stars with bated breath. Who knows, Machado might be the catalyst for a new wave of multi-sport athletes or the biggest April Fool's joke of the year. Only time will tell.