Guardians' Manzardo, DeLauter building bond
The Arizona Fall League is a stage on which the game’s top prospects can not only hone their skills in preparation for the next level, but can also make up for lost time. That’s been the case for Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter, two top Guardians prospects who didn’t share
The Arizona Fall League is a stage on which the game’s top prospects can not only hone their skills in preparation for the next level, but can also make up for lost time. That’s been the case for Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter, two top Guardians prospects who didn’t share a lineup until this year but now expect to for a long time.
The Fall League has only stoked expectation for the pair, who powered Peoria to a 10-8 win over Salt River on Thursday in the regular-season finale. Manzardo, baseball's No. 58 prospect per MLB Pipeline, homered in a four-hit effort while DeLauter (MLB No. 85) racked up three hits, two runs and an RBI to help the Javelinas advance to the postseason.
Peoria earned a spot in Friday night's play-in game against the Scottsdale Scorpions. The winner will face the Surprise Saguaros in Saturday's title game on national television.
Despite those stakes, it was largely another day at the office for DeLauter and Manzardo, who this fall have formed arguably the most potent 1-2 punch in Arizona in the heart of the Javelinas order.
“I love hitting behind him because he's on base pretty much every at bat,” said Manzardo, Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect. “I've always got a runner on first, with the four-hole open. I’m just gonna keep trying to hit it.”
Added DeLauter, the Guardians’ fourth-ranked prospect: “The guys here are unbelievable. As Manzo said early in the season, four or five of our best hitters are on the bench every day. So it's been great being around these guys and getting to see these guys swing.”
The ‘stache delivers!@CleGuardians No. 2 prospect Kyle Manzardo (MLB No. 58) lasers his sixth @MLBazFallLeague homer: pic.twitter.com/Y84UVsUGsI
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 9, 2023
Their success this fall has been a positive cherry wrapping up challenging years for both players, who are making up for lost time in Arizona. Acquired in the Trade Deadline deal for Aaron Civale from the Rays, Manzardo went more than two months without homering at one point and didn’t hit his first long ball in the Guardians organization until five weeks after the deal.
But the 23-year-old is hammering the ball this fall. He put together a three-game homer streak during the second week of play, crushed a 460-foot tater on Oct. 12, and cranked a key two-run shot Thursday. Only two players in the Fall League have hit more homers -- Twins prospects Kala'i Rosario (MIN No. 19) and Aaron Sabato have seven.
“I had a weird year … so I feel like I'm kind of hitting the back half of it now," Manzardo said. "It's fun being around these guys. I think that's the best part about playing in November still, is being around these dudes.”
The Guardians’ first-round pick (No. 16 overall) in 2022, DeLauter didn’t debut until this June because of a broken left foot and then suffered a fractured left pinky toe. But he hit the ground running after that, reaching Double-A by season’s end and posting an impressive .355/.417/.528 slash line across 57 games overall.
"I’m just happy to be healthy," the 22-year-old said. “That’s the biggest thing, especially moving forward and going into the offseason and obviously for next spring, it’s staying healthy. I’m grateful that I got to get out this season when I did and I’m grateful I’m still on the field now. So it’s been great.”
MLB.com's Jesse Borek contributed to this report.
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring