Ever since the Cleveland Guardians traded away Aaron Civale to bring in Kyle Manzardo last year, they imagined him as their first baseman of the future.
This season, Manzardo performed well at Triple-A, but when he made 87 plate appearances earlier in the season to show what he was capable of at the MLB level, he struggled to the tune of a 58 wRC+ (42 percent below the league average hitter).
He was sent down in mid-June, knowing he had work to do.
What came next was a torrid stretch of play in Columbus in which he forced his way back to the Guardians on Sunday, September 1.
He hit two homers that game and added three more hits on Tuesday.
Manzardo now looks much more composed and has an idea of what to do at the plate.
He discussed his adjustments with Bally Sports Cleveland.
“I’m just trying to control the zone, get pitches over the plate and move them forward.” Kyle Manzardo learned to slow down his approach at the plate since being promoted and matched a career-best with three hits in a @CleGuardians 7-1 win over the Royals,” they posted on X with the player’s remarks.
"I'm just trying to control the zone, get pitches over the plate and move them forward."
Kyle Manzardo learned to slow down his approach at the plate since being promoted and matched a career best with three hits in a @CleGuardians 7-1 win over the Royals.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/68SHelC6kZ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 4, 2024
The sample size is ridiculously small, but it’s clear he looks different at the plate.
He has now learned to slow down the game and that starts with plate discipline.
Swinging at hittable strikes and laying off pitches out of the zone seems simple, but it’s one of the hardest things to do while hitting.
It’s where Manzardo has made the most strides.
He is a future mainstay in the middle of the Guardians’ lineup, and he looks like he finally arrived.
NEXT: Guardians Have Slowly Rebuilt Sizable AL Central Lead
