Manzardo goes on HR binge; Arizona Fall League rosters announced | Guardians minors roundup for Sept. 24

Triple-A Columbus Clippers (3-33) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals)

The Clippers may not be making the playoffs, like the rest of the Guardians organization in 2023, but they ended the season on a solid note.

After losing the first two games of the series, they came back to win three in a row before losing the final game.

Finally healthy after the trade from Tampa Bay for Aaron Civale, Kyle Manzardo was a force for the Columbus offense in this series, although two of his best games came in losses. He popped two homers on Sept. 19, a total of three hits and three RBI in the 7-3 loss. He homered again Sept. 20, going just 1-4 this time with a walk and an RBI in a 4-2 loss. On Sept. 21, he went 2-for-4 with another homer and two RBI in an 8-3 win.

During his three-day homer binge, Manzardo hit four homers, five in six days, and six in nine games. He hit 11 homers in 73 games with Triple-A Durham for Tampa Bay, and six in just 20 games at Columbus.

Notable 40-man roster prospect, infielder Juan Brito, was promoted to Columbus for the final week after starting the year in High-A Lake County, and growing further in his time a Double-A Akron. Brito collected three hits in four games, including a double and six walks, giving him a .450 OBP in the one-week stint. He also made an outstanding defensive throw on Sept. 23.

Oscar Gonzalez did what he could in Triple-A to save his 40-man roster spot this winter, going 8-for-23 with six doubles and a homer with four RBI. His lone homer came in the Sept. 20 loss. Gonzalez’s approach didn’t improve, however, striking out nine times and drawing one walk.

In five games, Angel Martinez, also on the 40-man roster, doubled, homered, and drove in six on the week. He hit three-run homer on Sept. 22 was the difference in a 4-3 win.

Micah Pries, who was out with a strained quad for a few weeks, came back to play the final weekend after it was thought the leg injury that led to him being carted off the field would end his season.

Joey Cantillo struggled in his final start of 2023, walking six in five innings on Sept. 21, but only allowed three hits and two runs. The left-hander racked up a career-high 119 innings and finished his first season since 2019 fully healthy from spring training to September.

Cody Morris had his best performance of the year, striking out five in 3 1/3 relief innings on Sept. 20. He followed that up with three strikeouts and a walk in one inning of work Sept. 24. Fellow reliever Nic Enright started the year off in Miami as a Rule 5 pick and went on the injured list as he underwent treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma. Miami eventually let Enright go and he returned to Cleveland, with his results waning throughout the year. His outing on Sept. 22 was one of his best all season, striking out four in two perfect innings. He stuck out two and walked one in his final inning of work on Sept. 24.

Triston McKenzie made his final rehab start on Sept. 19, going 3 2/3 allowing three hits and three runs, two homers, walked one and struck out one. He returned to the Guardians to pitch on Sept. 24.

Columbus’ next game will also come against Omaha at home, starting April 2, 2024.

Guardians Minor Leaguers in Arizona Fall League

The Guardians will send eight prospects to the Arizona Fall League to play for the Peoria Javelinas starting Oct. 2, running through Nov. 9 (the AFL Fall Stars game is Nov. 5 and playoffs are Nov. 10-11).

Most notable is 2022 first-round pick, OF Chase DeLatuer (age 21), who played just 57 games this year between his rehab stint in Arizona and 42 with High-A Lake County and six in Double-A Akron due to a foot injury. The extra month should help DeLauter prepare for Double-A Akron in 2024 and possibly propel him to earn a promotion to Triple-A Columbus.

Manzardo (age 23) will look to continue his home run tear in Arizona. He missed five weeks with a shoulder injury and played in only 54 games, and the time in Arizona will hopefully get him missed repetitions that will prepare him to break camp in 2024 with the Guardians’ major league roster.

Other notable names joining DeLauter and Manzardo in Arizona:

RHP Ross Carver (Age 24): Double-A Akron — 71 2/3 innings, 81 K/34 BB, 6.15 ERA/4.32 FIP missed six weeks with a hamstring strain; acquired for RHP Carlos Vargas November 2022

RHP Bradley Hanner (24): Double-A Akron — 64 2/3 innings, 70 K/34 BB; acquired via minor league Rule 5 draft December 2022

LHP Erik Sabrowski (25): Double-A Akron — 21 2/3 innings, 28 K/18 BB, 2.49 ERA; acquired in December 2021 via minor league rule 5 draft; didn’t pitch until June due to recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery

LHP Ryan Webb (25): High-A Lake County — 82 innings, 83 K/34 BB, 3.29 ERA, 2021 fourth-round pick; missed half of 2022 recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery

RHP Jake Miller (23): High-A Lake County — 18 innings, 5 K/8 BB, 2021 20th round pick was recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2022, made season debut 7/29

INF Christian Cairo (22): High-A Lake County —.239/.376/.351, three homers, 10 SB in 61 games, season ended 7/23 due to injury; 2019 fourth-round pick

Guardians minor league pitching coordinator Joel Mangrum will serve as Peoria’s pitching coach for the fall season.