PEORIA, Ariz. -- The two-run homer that Kyle Manzardo hit in Game 3 of the ALCS last fall was a lasting image from the young slugger¡¯s rookie season. Manzardo¡¯s pose -- he leaned back slightly after connecting against Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt -- was made to be framed.
But more important than the pose is what Manzardo¡¯s strong finish last season could lead to in 2025.
¡°He's going to be a force in the middle of our lineup, no doubt,¡± teammate David Fry said. ¡°... The pop that comes off his bat, I think he's gonna be able to do some serious damage for us.¡±
MLB Pipeline ranked Manzardo as the Guardians¡¯ No. 2 prospect entering last season, and he earned his first opportunity in the Majors with a May 6 promotion. His rookie campaign can be split into two parts, separated by his two stints in the big leagues.
In 30 games after being promoted to the Majors from Triple-A Columbus on May 6, Manzardo hit .207 (17-for-82) with a .571 OPS, no homers, three walks and 23 strikeouts. He was optioned back to Columbus on June 18 and was not recalled until Sept. 1.
In 23 games after being recalled, Manzardo hit .270 (17-for-63) with an .873 OPS and five homers, with six walks compared to 18 strikeouts. He then hit .316 (6-for-19) in nine postseason games, which included four starts in the No. 2 spot of the lineup. Manzardo called the season a ¡°whirlwind.¡±
¡°I was spinning for a while there,¡± Manzardo said. ¡°But I was able to come back up and settle down. By that point, I knew where I stood with the team, I knew how I could help the team. I just tried to maximize that.¡±
Most of Manzardo¡¯s playing time with Cleveland last season came as the designated hitter and as a pinch-hitter. He made 40 appearances (36 starts) as the DH and six (two starts) at first, with All-Star Josh Naylor occupying first base.
As someone accustomed to playing the field, it took Manzardo time to adjust to that role, where he has more time between at-bats, and to find a routine that worked for him.
¡°DH-ing and pinch-hitting and stuff like that, it's very, very difficult,¡± Manzardo said. ¡°After I talked to different guys, learned from players on the team that have had success in that same spot, I was able to get a good routine going.¡±
¡°For Kyle,¡± manager Stephen Vogt said, ¡°we've talked a lot about, ¡®You're used to playing first base every day. You're used to being in the lineup every day. And having a part-time role and DH only, that¡¯s not easy, especially when you're trying to get your feet wet at the big league level.¡¯
¡°For him to come back and have a better understanding of what that role looks like, and creating a new routine for [himself], I think allowed him to just come be himself.¡±
Manzardo picked the brains of Will Brennan and Fry -- who is no stranger to adjusting on the fly. Fry has played five positions in the Majors (catcher, first and third base and left and right field) in addition to DH. A point of emphasis in his experience is preparing between at-bats for the specific pitchers he may face his next time up.
Fry noticed a difference in Manzardo between his first and second stints in the Majors last season.
¡°He was more comfortable,¡± Fry said. ¡°I think that¡¯s the biggest thing for pretty much any guy who comes up. It's like, you work at it your whole life to get to the big leagues, and then it's like, ¡®Oh, man, can I play at this level?¡¯ And then everybody finally realizes, ¡®Oh, it's baseball.¡¯ Yes, everybody's really, really good, but it's baseball.¡±
Manzardo breaking out this season would go a long way for Cleveland¡¯s offense. Naylor, who was traded to the D-backs this offseason, hit 31 homers and had 108 RBIs last season, both second on the Guardians behind only Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez. With Carlos Santana back in the first-base picture, Manzardo figures to split his time there and at DH.
At the least, Manzardo¡¯s strong finish last season was something he knows he can build on.
¡°It reinforced the idea that I already had in my head, that I belonged there,¡± Manzardo said. ¡°I went into the offseason feeling very motivated and inspired to go to work.¡±