Four days ago, we were talking about Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo and his spring struggles up to that point. He had gone 0-for-3 the previous day, on Tuesday, leaving his Cactus League batting average at .122 and his wRC at -6 in 44 trips to the plate.
Of course, 44 spring training plate appearances represent a tiny sample, but the fact is (or was, really) that Manzardo wasn’t having a good spring statistically speaking.
Well, Manzardo has hit two round-trippers and driven in four runs after that day, increasing that spring wRC+ to 43. That’s still low, but it’s in much better shape than it used to be.
On Sunday, Manzardo went 1-for-3 with a solo shot, his third of the spring. He also boasts 11 RBI, tied for the second-most in the team with Travis Bazzana and one short of Jose Ramirez’s 12.
As his manager, Stephen Vogt, told the media on Sunday after the game, Manzardo is peaking at the right time.
“Today, he checked every box. He hit the ball to left field, hit the homer to center, and then that was a really good two-strike approach on the line drive up the middle. So Manzo is peaking at the right time. We know he can hit. It’s not about results in spring. So he was working on some things early, but we really like where Kyle is right now with his approach and his swing,” Mason Horodyski wrote on X, with Vogt’s remarks on his first baseman and designated hitter.
#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt post game on Kyle Manzardo's day:
"Today he checked every box. He hit the ball to left field, hit the homer to center, and then that was a really good two strike approach on the line drive up the middle. So Manzo is peaking at the right time. We… https://t.co/jPFdP60OY7— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) March 22, 2026
Vogt is talking about Manzardo as a very complete batter, capable of hitting the ball with authority to all fields and not being as vulnerable as others with two strikes. If he can take a step forward as an offensive player, the Guardians might have an All-Star on their hands.
He slashed a very solid .234/.313/.455 with 27 home runs, 19 doubles, and two triples last year, good for a well above-average 113 wRC+.
He had a 144 wRC+ in Triple-A in 2024, coupled with a .398 OBP and 20 home runs in just 364 plate appearances. Those numbers suggest he hasn’t yet hit his ceiling. He is capable of more as he continues to learn and adjust.
Manzardo is still just 25, so his best seasons are ahead of him. He can hit another gear, and if he does, the Guardians’ offense can reach a whole new level.
NEXT: Guardians Get Tough Label In Latest Rankings
