1. Matt Manning, RHP
Birthdate: 1/28/98 (18 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie
Stats in 2016: 29 1/3 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 5.74 BB%, 37.7 K%
As a sign of the struggles of the Tigers system, their selection at #9 overall in this past June’s draft has easily become their top prospect.
While that could be looked at as an indictment, Manning is a legit #1 in a number of organizations around the game. He was an elite athlete whose father was an NBA player and he played basketball along with baseball all through high school.
Some teams back away from a guy like that due to his less refined baseball skills as he wasn’t playing travel baseball year-round, but Manning ended up turning quite a few heads in pre-draft due to his loud fastball that can flirt with triple digits with an easy delivery due to his high athleticism.
Manning has excellent spin on a curve, though he tends to get a touch off in his feel of the pitch, which costs him depth on the pitch. It does flash plus potential for sure, though, and when he’s on top of it, it has a tough loop to square up from his 6’6 frame.
His feel for his change is a work in progress, but he controls the pitch well, and his athleticism will be what carries him as he gains that baseball refinement needed along the way.
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