Cleveland Guardians Slugger Named As Possible AL Breakout Player

The Cleveland Guardians are hoping for a big year from Kyle Manzardo in his first full MLB season.

Tommy Wild | Feb 20, 2025

Jun 1, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) hits an RBI single during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians made some unconventional moves this offseason for a team that was in the ALCS just a few months ago.

Instead of adding more big-league talent, the team traded away two of its most proven and consistent players over the last few years.

The Guardians will heavily rely on their young core to get them back to where they were in 2024, and Kyle Manzardo is one of the most important players in determining Cleveland's ceiling.

Fans and analysts expect a lot from Manzardo in his first full big league season. So much so that Just Baseball's Jay Staph named him one of his top 10 American League breakout players to watch in 2025.

"In order to do this, Manzardo will have to continue the success he found in the second half of 2024, while also finding the same level of power he found throughout his time in the minor leagues," wrote Staph.

"His second-half wRC+ was nearly 100 points higher than his first-half wRC+, which is a very positive sign of things to come. He'll need to improve upon his quality of contact though, and raise his barrel rate and hard-hit rate even more next year."

Oct 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) hits a two-run home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees in game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images / David Dermer-Imagn Images

Manzardo's first big league stint in 2024 was nothing to write home about. He had a high strikeout rate and was clearly still adjusting to the timing of big-league pitching.

However, he turned all of that around in the final month of the season and into the playoffs. Manzardo only had 19 postseason at-bats, but he finished with six hits (.316 batting average), including a critical home run in Cleveland's sole ALCS victory.

Manzardo has the potential to be a very productive and consistent MLB hitter. 2025 could be the season he puts it all together, and the Guardians need him to do just that if they want to win the American League Central again.

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