The Cleveland Guardians needed offensive firepower, and they found someone right in front of their eyes.
Despite not being an everyday player for most of the season, Kyle Manzardo ranks second on the team with 26 home runs, just two behind All-Star Jose Ramirez.
While that is significant in the present, it also bodes well for the future.
“Manzardo is so ready to become a household name in 2026,” Brady Hamilton wrote on X.
HR leaders for the Guardians in 2025:
Jose Ramirez (28)
Kyle Manzardo (26)Manzardo is so ready to become a household name in 2026. #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/NuHpNUZ96c
— Brady Hamilton (@BradyH_216) September 10, 2025
Manager Stephen Vogt kept Manzardo on a short leash in the first half of the season.
With veteran Carlos Santana there, the younger first baseman didn’t get as many opportunities as he seemed to have earned, and he was rarely in the lineup against left-handed pitchers.
Now, Manzardo’s offensive surge has made it almost impossible for Vogt not to play him.
He’s added power to his game without sacrificing contact, and he’s been one of their best hitters in the clutch as well.
The Guardians have no margin for error as they chase an AL Wild Card berth.
So, they need their best players and those riding momentum out there as often as possible.
Manzardo should get the nod, regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.
Even if the Guardians fail to make the playoffs, Manzardo has already earned the right to be the starting first baseman next season and keep a big role on this team going forward.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Impressive First-Inning Stats For Jose Ramirez
