Matt Manning

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Matthew George Manning

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Biographical Information[edit]

Pitcher Matt Manning was the 9th overall pick of the 2016 amateur draft, by the Detroit Tigers. He began his professional career that year with the GCL Tigers West, going 0-2 3.99 in 10 games, but logging just 29 1/3 innings as the Tigers were treating him carefully. He also saw limited action in 2017, making a total of 14 starts and pitching 51 innings between the Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League and the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League. He was 4-2, 3.18 and struck out 52 batters.

In 2018, he pitched for three teams, starting at West Michigan and earning promotions to the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League and then to the Erie SeaWolves of the Eastern League, the latter for just 2 games. Overall, he went 7-8, 3.29 in 22 starts with an outstanding 154 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings. He was selected to pitch for the United States team in the 2018 Futures Game and for the American League in the 2019 Futures Game.

He made his major league debut in June of 2021, after being forced to sit out the 2020 season when the minor leagues were cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. He had started 2021 with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens, going 1-3, 8.07 in 7 starts. In spite of these less than sparkling numbers, he spent the remainder of the season with Detroit, making 18 starts and going 4-7, 5.80. In 85 1/3 innings, he gave up 96 hits and 33 walks, and also struck out 57 batters. In 2022, injuries limited him to 12 major league starts, in addition to 7 others in the minors. He was 1-1, 2.42 in AA and AAA and 2-3, 3.43 in the majors, showing signs of significant improvement.

On July 8, 2023, he pitched the first 6 2/3 innings of a combined no-hitter by the Tigers against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was replaced by Jason Foley after making 91 pitches and walking three batters. Foley completed the inning and pitched another one, after which Alex Lange retired the Jays in order in the 9th to complete the feat. Since the Tigers had scored both of their runs in the 2-0 win in the bottom of the 1st, he was credited with the win. In just his second start of that season, on April 11th, he had been injured by a comebacker through the mound hit by Toronto's Alejandro Kirk and had been out until the end of June, following a few games in the minors on a rehabilitation assignment at Toledo. He gave up no earned runs in 8 2/3 innings spread out over three starts in AAA. On September 6th, his season came to a premature end when he was again hit by a batted ball, this time on the right foot off the bat of the New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, a hit measured at 119.5 mph. The impact caused a fracture and he had to leave the game after managing to throw out Stanton at first base to end the 1st inning. In 15 starts in the majors, he went 5-4, 3.58, logging 78 innings.

His father, Rich Manning, played two seasons in the NBA. Matt played more basketball than baseball as a youngster and only began pitching in high school. However, his excellent athleticism allowed him to progress very fast in spite of his lack of pitching experience.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Jason Beck: "Manning gives glimpse of tantalizing talent: Despite so-so season finale, Detroit's No. 3 prospect impresses in third pro campaign", mlb.com, September 4, 2018. [1]
  • Jason Beck: "Healthy Manning ready to step up for Tigers", mlb.com, January 20, 2023. [2]
  • Jason Beck: "Manning leads the way as Tigers combine to no-hit Blue Jays", mlb.com, July 8, 2023. [3]

Related Sites[edit]

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