The Guardians will promote slugging prospect Kyle Manzardo previous to tomorrow’s sport with the Tigers, in keeping with The Athletic’s Zack Meisel (X hyperlink). Cleveland has an open house on its 40-man roster so as to add Manzardo, and the 26-man house will probably be created when outfielder Steven Kwan is positioned on the 10-day injured checklist.
Kwan left Saturday’s sport on account of hamstring tightness and was set to bear an MRI as we speak. The outcomes of the assessments aren’t but recognized, however even when the MRI is clear, the Guards may’ve felt it essential to sideline Kwan anyway given his lengthy historical past of hamstring issues. As Kwan defined to reporters (together with Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Vendor) yesterday, he has battled hamstring points each within the minors and through his faculty days.
Shedding Kwan for any period of time is a blow to the Guardians, as his enormous early-season efficiency has fueled Cleveland’s rise to first place within the AL Central. Kwan is hitting .353/.407/.496 over 145 plate appearances, main the American League in each batting common and hits (47). Some regression is inevitable since Kwan has a .370 BABIP and has continued to make a few of the weakest contact of any hitter in baseball, however the Guards have been comfortable to journey that offensive wave for so long as doable. Along with this surge on the plate, Kwan has additionally been delivering his customary excellent left subject protection, and appears like a favourite to win his third straight Gold Glove.
Will Brennan bought the beginning in left subject as we speak, however the Guardians will in all probability preserve the Brennan/Ramon Laureano platoon moving into proper subject and tackle Kwan’s absence through the use of Estevan Florial a bit extra frequently in left. Florial has gotten the majority of DH at-bats for Cleveland this season, but the group will now want the designated hitter spot as a approach to get Manzardo (who solely performs first base) and Josh Naylor within the lineup on the similar time. Gabriel Arias and David Fry additionally determine to get some taking part in time within the nook outfield in sure conditions.
A second-round choose for the Rays within the 2021 draft, Manzardo got here to Cleveland finally 12 months’s commerce deadline within the one-for-one swap that despatched Aaron Civale to Tampa Bay. Manzardo’s minor league numbers had already drawn him top-100 prospect consideration previous to the commerce, and he has solely gotten higher since becoming a member of the Guardians group. Manzardo is hitting .303/.375/.642 with 9 dwelling runs over 128 PA with Triple-A Columbus this season, and whereas the Guards selected to start out him at Triple-A relatively than add him to their Opening Day roster, it solely appeared like a matter of time earlier than Manzardo made his MLB debut.
MLB Pipeline ranked Manzardo 52nd on its checklist of the game’s prime 100 prospects, and Baseball America has him 87th. (For lists launched previous to the season, The Athletic’s Keith Legislation ranked Manzardo 66th and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel had him 83rd.) The consensus is evident — Manzardo’s bat is unquestionably prepared for the large leagues, although the 23-year-old may already be ticketed for a DH-only future even in a world the place Cleveland didn’t have Naylor locking down first base. Manzardo is seen as an honest first baseman at finest, and his lack of velocity makes him an implausible option to play outfield.
On the plate, nevertheless, Manzardo is a menace. He each makes numerous onerous contact and numerous contact typically, befitting the Guardians’ choice for hitters who hardly ever strike out. Manzardo has 50 dwelling runs over his 990 PA within the minors, and there may be some sense that he may be capable to unlock extra energy given how well-developed his method is within the batter’s field.
That is music to the ears of a Guardians group that has lengthy been missing in energy, although Cleveland’s offense has been enormously improved within the early going this season. Naylor has been a giant contributor to that extra harmful lineup, however since Naylor is a free agent after the 2025 season, there was a way that Manzardo may properly be the inheritor obvious at first base. Cleveland’s historical past of buying and selling pricier gamers previous to free company might make Naylor a giant commerce chip this coming offseason, so whereas a pleasant displaying from Manzardo in his rookie season would definitely assist the Guardians’ probabilities in 2024, it may need the Catch-22 of additionally hastening Naylor’s eventual departure.
Even when he stays on the Guards’ roster for the remainder of the season, Manzardo received’t earn fairly sufficient service time for a full season of MLB service. In consequence, he wouldn’t garner the Guardians an additional draft choose below the Prospect Promotion Incentive even when he had a top-two end in Rookie Of The Yr voting. It’s doable Manzardo may earn Tremendous Two standing and an additional 12 months of arbitration eligibility if he garners sufficient service time over his first three seasons, although we received’t know that reply till the 2026 season is full.
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