What scouts think of Kyle Manzardo
Time to see what the experts think of the latest top Guardians prospect to make his debut
Current CTC No. 2 prospect Kyle Manzardo, 23, is expected to be promoted to Cleveland today against the Detroit Tigers.
Manzardo is relatively new to Cleveland’s system, having been acquired from Tampa Bay’s system at the trade deadline last season for starting pitcher Aaron Civale.
Manzardo was a second-round pick (63rd overall) by the Rays in the 2021 draft out of Washington State, so he entered his professional baseball career with a relatively solid profile. Here’s what scouts have had to say about him from the time he was drafted to the present day:
On draft night, Manzardo was No. 80 on Baseball America’s Top 500, No. 79 on MLB.com’s top 200, and No. 118 on Kiley McDaniel’s Top 200 at ESPN.com.
Tampa Bay Amateur Scouting Director, Rob Metzler - Tampa Bay Times (July 2021)
“We like his bat. We like his power. We think it’s a bat, a profile that has a chance to carry the position. We’re really excited about that one.”
Due to his lack of position flexibility and speed, Manzardo was going to have to prove himself quickly with his bat alone.
MLB.com (July 2021)
Draft scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Manzardo played for his dad at Lake City High School in Idaho before heading to Washington State. He got immediate playing time as a freshman, playing nearly every day, then took a big step forward offensively during the shortened 2020 season, posting a .435/.500/.694 line. He’s proven that wasn’t a fluke by arguably being the best all-around hitter in the PAC-12 this spring and certainly the best hitter in the Pacific Northwest, leading to his name rising up Draft boards.
The left-handed hitter can flat-out punish a baseball, showing the ability to hit for average and power. He has an advanced approach at the plate and isn’t afraid to draw a walk while limiting his swing-and-miss, especially impressive given his power. It’s pop to all fields and his ability to get to hitter’s counts should allow him get to it at the next level. He rarely misses a fastball, but also doesn’t give away too much ground against softer stuff.
Limited to first base, Manzardo has worked hard to become a more capable defender and he’s shown improvement over the course of this season. College hitters who perform tend to drift upwards as the spring wears on and that’s exactly what was happening with Manzardo as the Draft drew closer.
Manzardo made a good first impression, slashing .349/.440/.605 in the Complex League the year he was drafted in a small sample size of 13 games.
The Rays didn’t mess around, moving Manzardo to High-A to begin the 2022 season, where he absolutely raked to tune of a .329/.436/.636 slash, good for a 183 wRC+. The numbers didn’t change much after he was promoted to Double-A, where he slashed .323/.402/.576 over the season’s final 30 games, good for a 148 wRC+.
Scouts really took notice of him in early 2023.
Fangraphs (January 2023)
Manzardo had among the highest average exit velocities in college baseball at a whopping 98 mph, though that came with what would constitute 40-grade peak exit velocities, around 105 mph (and with a BBCOR bat — major league players’ average is 110 mph with wood). Those metrics illustrate the way Manzardo’s skill set is tailored. He doesn’t have big, over-the-fence power, and instead boasts premium feel for contact and a great idea of the strike zone that makes him a dangerous lefty stick who grinds away at opposing pitchers. Manzardo hasn’t hit a single speed bump in pro ball and moved into the Top 100 during the middle of 2022 on the strength of his statistical performance and visual feel to hit. He slashed .327/.426/.617 combined at High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery (for the final month), hitting 22 homers across the two levels. He barely ever chases and sprays hard line drives and fly balls everywhere, covering all but the very up-and-in corner of the plate, where Manzardo tends to get jammed. Every aspect of his offense is plus except for his raw power, but Manzardo’s precise feel for the barrel and tendency to hunt pitches he can drive (or spoil ones he can’t until he gets something hittable) should enable his game power to play above his batting practice raw. He’s similar to DJ LeMahieu and Vinnie Pasquantino from a skill set standpoint and should provide a long-term answer at first base for the Rays within the next couple of years.
Keith Law had Manzardo as the No. 3 ranked prospect in Tampa’s loaded farm system entering the 2023 season.
The Athletic (February 2023)
He’s a very disciplined hitter who posts strong exit velocities without a huge swing, so his power is more line drive than big fly and he may be a 40-50 doubles guy rather than a 30-homer guy, using the whole field to keep that contact rate up. He’s also shown himself to be more than a capable defender at first. I suppose someone could try to alter his launch angle for more home-run power, but Manzardo is plenty valuable as he is — someone who might hit .300-.320 with walks and doubles while playing above-average defense at first. Those guys don’t make the Hall of Fame but they are an endangered species in our all-or-nothing baseball era.
Manzardo made a good impression at Tampa Bay’s Spring Training in 2023 before being sent to minor league camp that season, particularly with head coach Kevin Cash.
Tampa Bay Times (March 2023)
“Maybe as good of an impression as anybody in camp,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Manzardo. “It’s really cool to see a guy come in that you hear a lot about and not just back it up but do more than back it up.
“It’s easy to put comps on guys — I won’t do that with him — but he’s talented, and he’s got a knack for getting the barrel to the bat. He’s hit everywhere he’s been. Hopefully he keeps hitting, and we’ll see him.”
Then the 2023 season happened, where Manzardo debuted at Triple-A. He struggled with a shoulder injury and with personal issues after a close family member became ill. Despite the slow start, he was selected to represent Tampa Bay in the Futures Game in 2023. In July of 2023, Cleveland made its move, asking for Manzardo in its trade with Tampa Bay.
SI.com (July 2023)
One word can describe Manzardo’s player profile; power. He’s got all the talent in the world to develop into one of the game’s best home run hitters, which is something the Guardians desperately need.
The Guardians are getting a hitter in Manzardo. It’ll take some time for him to reach the Major Leagues as he’s currently on the 7-day injured list with a shoulder strain and still has some developing to do in the Minors. However, Kyle could have a big impact once he gets here. ”
Manzardo bounced back with his health and hit much better for Cleveland to finish out the 2023 season before getting a chance to shine in the Arizona Fall League alongside Guardians No. 1 prospect Chase DeLauter. The duo were dubbed “The Bash Brothers.”
Despite putting up good numbers there, scout Bernie Pleskoff tempered expectations about Manzardo after watching him in the fall league.
Forbes (November 2023)
This scout has observed a great number of Manzardo’s Fall League games.
His ability to make consistent contact is one quality that sets Manzardo apart. It has been a rare occasion when this observer has seen Manzardo swing and miss a pitch in the strike zone.
Manzardo’s plate discipline is superb.With a good knowledge of the strike zone, Manzardo is patient, and waits for a pitch he can drive. He doesn’t approach an at-bat looking to destroy the baseball. Rather, his swing is appropriately strong, without being long and out of control.
Manzardo has enough loft in his swing to take a ball out of any park, but his line-drives to the right/center gap form a focal point of his offensive game. Manzardo does not strike this observer as a hitter who will achieve high exit velocity. Rather, he will barrel the ball, and be satisfied to swing within his own comfort level. One can project more power as Manzardo totally completes his physical maturation. He may add strength as he continues organizational strength and conditioning programs.
Defensively, this scout has found Manzardo to be an average first baseman. Manzardo is rather slow afoot, and he isn’t the most agile and lithe defender around first base. He will make all the expected plays, but his range is rather limited.
Manzardo entered 2024 as Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He looked great at Spring Training and has dominated Triple-A to begin the 2024 season, slashing .303/.375/.642 with nine home runs in 29 games before earning his promotion. Here’s hoping Cleveland finds a way to make him work alongside fellow elite left-handed swinging first baseman Josh Naylor.