Manzardo is the 350th former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Willmar Stinger Kyle Manzardo made his Major League debut for the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, May 6, 2024. Manzardo is the 350th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Manzardo, who played collegiately at Washington State University, played for the Stingers in 2020. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
In 2020 with the Stingers, Manzardo played in 33 games and hit .297 with seven home runs, seven doubles, 35 runs scored, and 32 RBI.
Manzardo started his professional career in 2021 with the Rays Rookie level team in the Florida Complex League. Across 13 games he hit .349 with two home runs, five doubles and eight RBI.
In 2022 Manzardo started the season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the High-A South Atlantic League. After 63 games he was promoted to the Montgomery Biscuits of the AA Southern League. Between the two clubs he played in 93 games and hit .327 with 22 home runs, 26 doubles, and one triple. He drove in 81, scored 71 times and stole a base.
Manzardo started the 2023 season with the Durham Bulls of the AAA International League. He would play in 73 games with Durham before being traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for pitcher Aaron Civale. Manzardo would play in three games with the Guardians Rookie level team in the Arizona Complex League. He would then move to the Columbus Clippers of the AAA International League. For the year he played in 97 games and hit .237 with 17 home runs, 27 doubles and 55 RBI.
The 2024 season began with Manzardo in Columbus. In 29 games he was hitting .303 with nine home runs, 10 doubles and 25 runs scored. He had driven in 20 and walked 15 times. In his Major League debut against the Detroit Tigers, Manzardo started the game at DH and went 0 for 3 at the plate.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, 350 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
