4 Cleveland Guardians position battles to watch in spring training

4. Designated Hitter

Anyone might not expect this position to appear on this list, but there is a reason that it does. It may not be a true position battle, but this spot in the lineup could be impacted if there are any issues with other positions, and that matters.

The expectation is that Kyle Manzardo will man the DH spot for most of the season to continue his development while Carlos Santana occupies first base, but it is not quite that simple. Manzardo's performance is going to be a primary factor as to how this plays out. If Manzardo is not showing signs of improvement, this could result in DH becoming a time-share situation, and that is not optimal for anyone involved.

Jhonkensy Noel is another player to factor into the equation here. If Noel is having difficulties in the outfield and the Guardians still want his bat in the lineup, designated hitter may be the only spot for him to occupy. Noel and Manzardo splitting time as Cleveland's DH might work early on, but things become vastly more complicated once David Fry returns.

Fry will be relegated to DH duties only in 2025, and having multiple others appearing as Cleveland's designated hitter will make it difficult for all parties involved to contribute at a level the Guardians need. Limiting the amount of players making appearance at DH in 2025 will be crucial to Cleveland's success.