Two Guardians Prospects Named 2023 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars
This fall, the Cleveland Guardians have eight prospects participating in the Arizona Fall League.
Two of them, who had strong starts to the AFL season, have been named 2023 Arizona League Fall Stars for their notable offseason performances: Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter of the Peoria Javelinas.
Manzardo is Cleveland’s second-ranked and MLB’s 58th-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old first baseman is hitting .241 with 19 hits, five home runs, 15 RBI, six doubles, a .532 slugging percentage, and .858 OPS in 19 AFL games.
He currently ranks among AFL leaders in home runs (tied for third), doubles (tied for fourth), extra-base hits (12, tied for second), and total bases (tied for fifth).
Regarding Manzardo’s Fall Star selection, Jim Callis of MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo of MLBPipeline.com, and Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com and MLB.com said that the Cleveland prospect is the “best pure hitter in the AFL.”
He is also set to participate in tonight’s AFL Home Run Derby.
Cleveland Guardians prospects Chase DeLauter (left) and Kyle Manzardo (right).
Photo via @MLBazFallLeague on X
DeLauter is Cleveland’s fourth-ranked and MLB’s 85th-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old outfielder is hitting .257 with 19 hits, four home runs, 23 RBI, four doubles, five stolen bases, a .473 slugging percentage, and .831 OPS in 20 AFL games.
His 23 RBI are currently tied for the most in the AFL this offseason.
Regarding DeLauter’s Fall Star selection, Callis, Mayo, and Dykstra said that, “DeLauter has the best combination of size (6-foot-4, 235 pounds), athleticism and plate discipline in the Fall League.”
Guardians fans can watch the top-prospect duo in the 2023 AFL Fall Stars Game tomorrow night at 8:00 PM ET on MLB Network.
