4. Alek Manoah
Minors (A-): 17 innings, 2.65 ERA, 1.059 WHiP, five walks, 27 strikeouts
Although Alek Manoah did not pitch much after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, he still showed why he was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Undrafted as a two way player out of high school, Manoah did not come onto the radar until his dominant performance as a starter in the Cape Cod League. He continued that showing in his junior year at West Virginia, leading to his being the second pitcher drafted in his past year.
On the mound, Manoah is certainly intriguing. At 6’6″ and 260 pounds, the righty is an absolute beast on the rubber. He has the power stuff to match his size, with a mid 90s fastball that has impressive run and sink from his three quarters arm slot. That arm slot also makes his slider a true weapon, giving him a potential second plus pitch. While the change is a work in progress, it has been a weapon for Manoah in the past, particularly in his aforementioned run in the Cape Cod League.
As intriguing as Manoah has been, there is still a great deal of projection left. He had been used primarily as a reliever during his first two years in college, and therefore does not have many starts under his belt. In fact, those 17 innings came over six starts, so the Blue Jays are being cautious with his workload.
Once the training wheels come off, Alek Manoah may be as intriguing a pitching prospect as there is in the game. If his changeup continues to develop, and he can continue to work deeper into games, the Toronto Blue Jays could have a real gem.