The Cleveland Guardians have found a legitimate star.
It took a while, but Kyle Manzardo has finally established himself as a big contributor, and Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report now has him ranked as the 14th-best first baseman in MLB.
“After turning heads as a September call-up last season, Manzardo has been the primary protection for Jose Ramirez in the middle of the Cleveland lineup this season. The 25-year-old ranks second on the team in wRC+, home runs and RBI, and after spending much of the year in the DH role, he has taken over at first base since Carlos Santana was released,” Reuter wrote.
Of course, a ranking of 14th might not sound like much.
Then again, it’s worth noting that he didn’t get to play that often for most of the season.
It wasn’t until Santana’s woes were just too obvious that manager Stephen Vogt gave Manzardo more at-bats.
He added power to his swing without giving up contact, and he became too valuable to keep on the bench.
The Guardians still don’t seem to fully trust him against left-handed pitchers, but he’s earned the right to be in the lineup for most games.
Notably, Cleveland has another promising player who also could be best used at first base.
But with its needs in the outfield, chances are that C.J. Kayfus will play there instead.
The Guardians need to close out the season on a high note to secure a spot in the playoffs, and that means keeping Manzardo at first base.
He continues to get better with more playing time, so, barring a shocking turn of events or a major injury, he should be locked in as Cleveland’s first baseman for years to come.
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