This offseason, Cleveland Guardians first baseman prospect Kyle Manzardo had a substantial campaign in the 2023 Arizona Fall League.
The 23-year-old finished top-five in the league in home runs (six, tied for third), doubles (seven, tied for third), extra-base hits (14, second), and total bases (52, third) en route to 2023 All-Arizona Fall League honors.
Some now believe that this success will soon translate to the Major League level.
In a recent article, MiLB.com and MLB.com reporter Sam Dykstra, MLB.com reporter Jim Callis, and MLBPipeline.com reporter Jonathan Mayo write that Manzardo is Cleveland’s top Rookie of the Year candidate for the 2024 season.
Here is their rationale as to why:
“Acquired from the Rays for Aaron Civale in July, Manzardo is one of the better pure hitters in the Minors and showed burgeoning power in the Arizona Fall League, where he finished third with six homers in 22 games. He batted .242/.343/.475 with 17 homers in 94 Triple-A contests despite dealing with a shoulder injury and could add some much-needed pop to Cleveland's lineup while filling a hole at first base.”
Manzardo is currently the Guardians’ second-ranked and MLB’s 58th-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
MLB Pipeline still has his estimated time of arrival to MLB as 2023, but he still has yet to make his Major League debut.
The Guardians had this year’s American League Rookie of the Year runner-up in starting pitcher Tanner Bibee, who did not make his Major League debut until April 26th.
Despite not being on Cleveland’s 40-man roster, some believe that Manzardo should be on the team’s 2024 Opening Day roster.
Cleveland fans will ultimately have to see if he gets the call up to MLB at some point next season.
More must-reads: