The Cleveland Guardians are set to call up slugging prospect Kyle Manzardo before their upcoming game against the Detroit Tigers, according to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel. Manzardo will be added to the 40-man roster and will take the place of outfielder Steven Kwan on the 26-man roster, as Kwan heads to the 10-day injured list due to hamstring tightness.
Kwan left Saturday’s game with the injury and underwent an MRI earlier today, but the results haven’t been released. Regardless of the MRI’s findings, the Guardians likely decided to play it safe with Kwan given his long history of hamstring issues, which date back to his college days. Even if he’s not out for long, his absence is a setback for Cleveland’s lineup. The 25-year-old outfielder has been a key contributor to the Guardians’ strong start this season, leading the American League in batting average with a .353/.407/.496 slash line. His stellar defense in left field is another asset that Cleveland will miss.
To fill in for Kwan, the Guardians will likely shuffle their outfield arrangements. Will Brennan started in left field today, but the team is expected to continue the platoon of Brennan and Ramon Laureano in right field, while using Estevan Florial more frequently in left. Gabriel Arias and David Fry could also see increased playing time in the outfield.
Manzardo’s promotion has been on the radar for some time. The 23-year-old was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at last year’s trade deadline in a swap for pitcher Aaron Civale. Since joining Cleveland’s Triple-A team in Columbus, he’s been hitting .303/.375/.642 with nine home runs over 128 plate appearances, demonstrating why he’s considered one of the Guardians’ top prospects.
Prospect ranking systems are high on Manzardo’s potential with MLB Pipeline ranking him 52nd, Baseball America placing him 87th, The Athletic’s Keith Law ranking him 66th, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel putting him at 83rd. The consensus is that Manzardo has a bat that’s ready for the majors, though his fielding skills are still developing. He’s primarily a first baseman, and given his lack of speed, he might not be a fit for other positions. This could make him more likely to slot in as a designated hitter, especially since Josh Naylor is already established at first base for the Guardians.
Offensively, Manzardo is the kind of power hitter that the Guardians have been lacking. He combines strong contact skills with a good eye at the plate, and he’s shown the potential to develop even more power as he gains experience. This addition could provide a much-needed boost to Cleveland’s lineup.
Naylor, however, is only under contract through 2025, raising the question of what Manzardo’s emergence means for his future. If Manzardo performs well in his rookie season, it could give the Guardians leverage to consider trading Naylor, following their pattern of trading players as they near free agency. This storyline will be interesting to follow as Manzardo makes his MLB debut and the season progresses.
