2025: The year of Kyle Manzardo

It has been a long time coming ever since the Cleveland Guardians made the trade that sent Aaron Civale to the Tampa Bay Rays in return for Kyle Manzardo back on July 31, 2023. The first baseman entered the 2025 season as the Guardians 2nd ranked prospect according to MLB pipeline. Including 59th overall across the MLB.

The high hopes heading into 2025 come thanks to a great finish from Manzardo in the 2024 season. After going back and forth from Cleveland and Columbus for a good chunk of the first half of the season, he finally got his chance to prove himself consistently in September, and it paid off.

Manzardo would have his first two home runs of the season in his first game back in September off of the Pirates' Mitch Keller. He would finish the month batting .270, including 5 HRs, 8 RBIs, and 6 walks. He would even get his chance in October when he got 16 at-bats. Manzardo would finish the postseason batting .316, including 1 HR and 2 RBIs.

The end-of-the-year success has transitioned into the 2025 season in a big way. Manzardo earned his opportunity with three straight starts in the season-opening series on the road in Kansas City, and he made sure to capitalize on it. The second-year prospect earned player of the game honors on Opening Day itself, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs, finishing just one single shy of the cycle.

"Manzo" would follow up with two walks on Saturday and a 2-for-5 day on Sunday, hitting his second home run of the season to make it 6 RBIs in just three games. His .455 batting average is second on the team to start the season, only behind Steven Kwan, who is hitting a cool .500 in the first three games.

After the team dealt star first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the off-season, it was ultimately them giving Manzardo the keys to the future. Entering his second season in the majors and his first full-time season, expect a breakout season from Manzardo, as he is already proving that he is an everyday player.