The Cleveland Guardians may have one of the most exciting long-term situations at first base in the entire American League, and one insider explained why.
Terry Pluto addressed the future of the position directly in his latest column, and what he had to say about both Kyle Manzardo and top prospect Ralphy Velazquez paints a picture of a franchise that is building something at first base that could pay dividends for years to come.
“Manzardo’s defense has improved dramatically this season. He is now average. He had a terrible start to the season, hitting .186 in March/April with one homer. Since then, he’s a .300 hitter with four homers. He is a big part of the present and future for the Guardians. Velazquez is the most exciting hitting prospect in the farm system since Chase DeLauter, at least in my opinion. He doesn’t turn 21 until May 28. A former high school catcher, he is a good defensive first baseman. Both Manzardo and Velazquez can hit in the middle of the lineup for a long time,” Pluto wrote.
Start with Manzardo. His full 2026 numbers across 140 at-bats show a .221 batting average with five home runs, 17 RBI, a .299 on base percentage and a .671 OPS. Those numbers are not flashy, but they do not tell the whole story. Manzardo hit .186 in March and April with one home run, dragging his season line down significantly. Since that rough patch, he has been a .300 hitter with four of his five homers, including a pinch hit solo shot in the ninth inning in Philadelphia earlier this weekend that gave Cleveland a 1-0 win and pushed his name into franchise history books. His defense has come along as well.
Then there is Ralphy Velazquez, and this is where the conversation about the future gets genuinely exciting. The 20-year-old from San Pedro, California was drafted by Cleveland in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Huntington Beach High School and has been climbing the system steadily ever since. He was a 2024 Futures Game selection in the American League, another indicator of how highly regarded he is.
His 2026 campaign split between Akron and Columbus shows a .314 batting average with seven home runs, 30 RBI and a .964 OPS across 40 combined games. He was recently promoted to Triple A, just days before his 21st birthday on May 28.
Rhys Hoskins is the bridge for this season, a one-year presence brought in specifically to cover left-handed pitching while Manzardo develops. He is hitting .182 with four homers and 18 RBI, and his role in the lineup figures to continue shrinking as Manzardo’s hot stretch extends and the organization’s confidence in him grows.
The present is Manzardo. The future is Manzardo and Velazquez together. If Pluto is right, Cleveland is going to be in a position of strength for a very long time.
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