There are so many incoming prospects and position battles for the Cleveland Guardians during spring training that it’s easy to overlook established players who are settled in at their spots. Some of them are young, too, which means they also have potential upside that can play a big role in a successful season.
Heading into his third MLB campaign, Kyle Manzardo is among those key players. He took over as the starting first baseman last season and is likely to remain in that role this year.
With playing time virtually guaranteed, the Guardians slugger is emerging as a breakout candidate in 2026, with CBS Sports calling him a player to watch in fantasy drafts.
“We got a near 30-homer season out of Manzardo already, but with a poor batting average and limited counting stats, so I understand the lack of interest in him in drafts. But the Guardians started treating him more like an everyday player down the stretch, as he started seven of their final 10 games against lefty starts, including a must-win playoff game against Tarik Skubal,” Chris Towers wrote.
Last year, in his first full MLB season, Manzardo got off to an excellent start and entered May with eight home runs and 19 RBIs. He then hit 14 home runs from July until the end of the season and finished the campaign with 27 homers and 70 RBIs in 142 games.
If he can get a few more at-bats and improve even a small amount, a 30- or 35-home run season seems well within reach. For a team in need of power, that would be a huge boost for the Guardians’ lineup and outlook overall.
After closing 2025 as the primary first baseman following the release of Carlos Santana in late August, it is possible Manzardo may again split time at the position following the spring training signing of Rhys Hoskins. However, the Guardians might prefer to use Hoskins primarily at DH rather than in the field based on his recent injury history.
In addition, there is a chance that CJ Kayfus, who made his MLB debut as a call-up last season and was thought to be the likely DH heading into this year, could be sent to the minors to begin the season due to the potential roster crunch in the outfield.
With top prospect Ralphy Velazquez likely at least a year away, Manzardo should have plenty of chances to further establish himself with the Guardians this season.
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