The Cleveland Guardians needed an unsung hero, and he may have been there all along.
Kyle Manzardo has been one of their brightest spots at the plate this season, even though he hasn’t gotten as many opportunities as he’s probably earned.
With that in mind, panelists from Cleveland.com dove into the numbers and the tape to assess his game and improvement.
They pointed out Manzardo has been on a roll over the past three weeks, becoming a unique type of hitter.
“This evolution is particularly notable because power hitters often struggle with consistency. Many sluggers sacrifice contact skills and all-fields approach in favor of pulling the ball for power. Manzardo appears to be finding the rare balance that makes for a truly dangerous hitter,” per the “Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.”
Manzardo needs to get more at-bats, as he’s performed better than Daniel Schneemann, David Fry and Carlos Santana.
The Guardians don’t want Manzardo out there against lefties, and while that makes some sense, he’s proven that he’s much better when getting regular at-bats.
The offense went cold earlier in the season, and the team was in desperate need of some firepower.
The Guardians are trending in the right direction and playing their best baseball of the season when it counts the most, and plenty of that has to do with Manzardo’s contributions.
They need to give him more opportunities to showcase his skills, especially considering the work he’s put in and how much he’s improved.
The Guardians won’t impress anybody with power, so they should make the most of the contact hitters they have in their lineup.
NEXT: Insider Reveals C.J. Kayfus' Secret To His Impressive At-Bats
