A few days ago, we discussed in this very space that the Cleveland Guardians needed to seek upgrades for their first base situation in the trade market. That’s probably still the case if the team wants to separate itself from the pack.
However, it would be unfair to ignore that Kyle Manzardo, one of the owners of that position alongside Rhys Hoskins, is starting to show signs of improvement. He’s as streaky as they come: he can disappear for months, then explode over a three-week stretch to let his presence be felt.
On Wednesday, Manzardo racked up three hits: a single, a double, and a home run. Had he hit a triple, we would be talking about a cycle. Speed, unfortunately, is not really part of his game. Still, what he did against the Twins was very impressive.
“Cleveland Guardians (1B) Kyle Manzardo collected three hits tonight (3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) vs the Twins including his 11th HR of the season. Last 3 games: 4-8, 4 R, 2 (2B), 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG,” Guardians Prospective posted.
Cleveland #Guardians (1B) Kyle Manzardo collected three hits tonight (3-5 2R 2B HR 2RBI) vs the Twins including his 11th HR of the season.
Last 3 games:
4-8 4R 2(2B) 1HR 2RBI .500 AVG#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/1GzVjL1XSu
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 23, 2026
Three solid games in a row are virtually nothing if we consider the long MLB calendar, but it could be the start of something. Manzardo has been struggling badly in July, with a .151 batting average, a .483 OPS, and a 39 wRC+. He was also awful in the first month of the season, slashing .186/.268/.244 with a .512 OPS and a 49 wRC+.
Of course, he was a beast in May (133 wRC+) and June (136 wRC+), so as you can see, consistency is not exactly his bread and butter. In case you were wondering, he is hitting .216/.306/.369 with 11 round-trippers and a 92 wRC+ for the season as a whole, so he still has a lot of room to improve.
The Guardians and fans were expecting much more from a guy who hit 27 home runs and posted a 113 wRC+ last year. He can still reach and exceed those heights with a strong second half, and the last three games have given us a better, more composed, and more confident version of the slugger.
Having 2025 Manzardo back would take the Guardians’ lineup to the next level, so the hope is that he can eventually get there.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Gets Candid About Guardians Without Jose Ramirez
