Potential 2013 Twins Draft Pick: Sean Manaea

[Pius Jefferson]

Manaea vs Windle going on right now at the Metrodome.

 

5ip 1 hit 6K for Manaea.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I will have video of Manaea's (and Windle's on his thread) first inning of the game posted later. Some quick observations about him...

 

His fastball was good, 91-94, hit 95 once, and, for seven innings, nearly unhittable. His slider was in the high-70s and also got a number of swings-and-misses. There was a pitch he threw, maybe in the 3rd, to a lefty - acted like a curveball - that was completely filthy. All-in-all, the amount of times a Gopher player swung through a Manaea pitch was probably in the 17-20 range. Obviously those are stats that get you drafted high.

 

There were a few parts of Manaea's game that need work. First, when there is a runner on base, he really slows down. Snails pace down. He doesn't have a good move to first, he isn't particularly quick to home and wants to pitch out of a windup. He threw the ball to first probably a dozen time and at least four times could have been called for a balk because he steps over the imaginary 45 degree line towards home. Even before all of that, whenever he's pitching with a runner on base, he takes a funny little knee-lift step before coming set. It's weird - not sure why he does it - and didn't look all that beneficial. Who knows...

 

His 9th inning was also very interesting. He gave up a sharp single to start the inning off. He struck out the next batter swinging on a 91 mph fastball at the eyes. He gave up another single and had runners on the corners with one out. The next batter went 2-0 before fouling a ball towards the 1B bullpen. The Indiana State fielder made a nice move getting the ball back before the runner could tag up. Up came the Minnesota DH batting .148. He missed the zone three times before working the count full. He then missed low - check-swing - and walked the bases full. The first pitch to the next batter was a couple feet short of home and went squirting towards the Indiana State dugout. The ball, runner and Manaea all got there at the same time. It looked like the runner got his hand under the tag to me. The guy I was with thought he was out. The interesting thing was Manaea tumbled toward the backstop and the ump didn't make the call until making sure he still had the ball. Had he called him safe, the runner from 2nd would have touched home before Manaea could have gotten back. In the celebration, Manaea rolled his ankle as well.

 

All told, Manaea looked like a top pick. I don't see what he could do to drop out of the Top 4. I got to the Dome at 5:30 to scout the scouts... hard to tell who was from where. There were at least 30 radar guns out. While there are areas to improve his game, there wasn't anything alarming, though he'll need to improve his pickoff move/speed with runners on.

 

It was a good game at the very least, well worth the $8 ticket.

[gunnarthor]

What's the level of competition? I know the Big 10 isn't the SEC.

[maxisagod]

Okay I know he's the Twins' King of the Scouts, but Deron Johnson is the only scout I've ever seen that has his own entourage. I lost count, how many Gophers did Manaea strike out?

[lightfoot789]

Chris Adnderson beat ECU 3-2 Friday night. ECU scored on a bunt play with runner on third and 2 outs. Only 5 Ks tonight. He was 2nd in country before game and now has 50 Ks in 38 2/3 innings with a 1.16 ERA. Still my sleeper - My apologies - Back to the tall lefty..................................How did Windle do following his No No? What was final score?

[FrodaddyG]

Chris Adnderson beat ECU 3-2 Friday night. ECU scored on a bunt play with runner on third and 2 outs. Only 5 Ks tonight. He was 2nd in country before game and now has 50 Ks in 38 2/3 innings with a 1.16 ERA. Still my sleeper -

The guy literally has his own thread. Can't be bothered to post there?

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Manaea's first inning from last night...

 

I give the radar reading after every pitch.

 

[video=youtube_share;LNG8gMP81Eg]

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm kind of hoping the Twins end up with Manea in the first round and one of Anderson/Windle in teh second.... though I'm beginning to think Anderson won't make it to number 4 in round 2.

[righty8383]

Keith Law has submitted his thoughts from last nights game.

 

Insiders only as always with Klaw. He obviously likes Manaea but expressed disappointment in what he saw. Saying he wasn't as "electric" as he hoped. He also says that at THIS POINT, he is not a top 5 pick. This stood out to me...

 

he's still really interesting because of the velocity and command, but I couldn't take the guy I saw tonight in the top five picks, and certainly wouldn't take him ahead of Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray today.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

As he sat about a dozen seats away from me, sounds about right. I find it interesting that he talks about "early in the game" and "in the ninth inning", because he left after the 3rd and I didn't see him again until the 8th. Obviously, I'm not sure where he was (all of his stuff was still at his seat), but I thought Manaea was at his best in the middle innings - still hitting 94 and that was where he got most of his strikeouts. Law would have a better basis for comparison to Gray than I would, but hearing that he likes Gray more than Manaea is encouraging, because I'd be happy with Manaea.

 

Here's an

with Manaea after the game. He sounds optimistic that his ankle will quickly heal, but his face said a different story.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The reports I saw on Gray was that he's a 3 starter, correct? If that's the case, if Manaea doesn't have what it takes, I'd rather draft a guy like Anderson under slot (who would also end up a 3 starter but seems to have more upside) and then go after a tough highschool sign later in the draft.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The reports I saw on Gray was that he's a 3 starter, correct? If that's the case, if Manaea doesn't have what it takes, I'd rather draft a guy like Anderson under slot (who would also end up a 3 starter but seems to have more upside) and then go after a tough highschool sign later in the draft.

 

I think that was probably the pre-season report. As far as current college arms go, Appel, Manaea and Gray probably all could be projected as top-of-the-rotation guys based on the swings and misses they got. Though others are down on Manaea after Friday's start, I'm not and I don't think the Twins, who love success in the Cape, are either. I've said all along that Manaea would need more time in the minors and that remains true. He areas of need are fixable, all in a left-handed package.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Nice reports from the guys at Perfect Game on Friday Night's game.

 

PG: Manaea-Windle lives up to billing (It appears to be one of the free articles on the site as well.)

[diehardtwinsfan]

there's a nice write up on minorleagueball as well on the Manaea-Windle matchup.

[Mave]

Nice reports from the guys at Perfect Game on Friday Night's game.

 

PG: Manaea-Windle lives up to billing (It appears to be one of the free articles on the site as well.)

 

 

Taken from this article: "'I hate pitching in the cold,' Manaea said after the game about pitching in the cozy confines of the Metrodome. 'It's probably the worst thing. Coming here and having nice conditions, and actually sweating while pitching, was big for me."

 

.....

 

Still a lot of snow on the ground.... April 1st is coming fast...

 

Also-- the more I read, the more I like Windle. Not at 4, but who knows how long he will stick around come draft day.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Taken from this article: "'I hate pitching in the cold,' Manaea said after the game about pitching in the cozy confines of the Metrodome. 'It's probably the worst thing. Coming here and having nice conditions, and actually sweating while pitching, was big for me."

 

I thought the same thing... but it's not like Colorado or Chicago are in the tropics either, so he's gonna have to deal with it.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

From what I gather about Manaea's most recent (7 shutout innings) performance was that he was a little erratic, but also looked a little more like his summer-electric-self.

 

Most importantly, he did so in 41 degree weather.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

It was announced today that Manaea would not be making his start this weekend due to a strained hip muscle. The hope is that he'll be able to throw, but Indiana State's plan is to play it safe.

[cmb0252]

It was announced today that Manaea would not be making his start this weekend due to a strained hip muscle. The hope is that he'll be able to throw, but Indiana State's plan is to play it safe.

 

That's not good news.

[kab21]

If you want Manaea to be there at #4 it's not bad news...

[Jeremy Nygaard]

If you want Manaea to be there at #4 it's not bad news...

 

That's how I feel. This may be part of the reason he has fallen off since the Cape. Don't forget how players who play well in the Cape typically stay pretty high on the Twins draft board.

[cmb0252]

Manaea has a lot of question marks around him and missing starts with an injury can't help. Currently I just can't see him being a top 5 guy until he proves his stuff from the cape cod is really.

[cmb0252]

Manaea did miss his start Friday with a hip strain but he did throw Sunday. He threw 6 shutout innings and ended the day with a 9/0 k/bb ratio. No word on the quality of his stuff. Christopher crawford (helping Law with draft info at ESPN) had an interesting quote from an NL scout.

"Hip injuries can just be such a lingering issue," an NL scout said. "Even if it's mild and creates just a little bit of discomfort, it's something to keep an eye on because they have this nasty habit of coming back. [i'm] not saying that it's a reason not to draft a kid, but it's more homework for a club to do and can put doubt in a club's mind."

 

Its a good read and has information about several other draft prospect and is linked below:

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/mlb_draft/id/9146465/stanford-austin-wilson-returns-action-indiana-state-sean-manaea-battles-injury-mlb

 

Also in Jim callis chat on the third he was asked the following question:

Seems like Sean Manaea's stock has fallen in a lot of mock drafts. Do you chalk up his less than totally dominant start, both production and stuff-wise, to the weather? Something else?

Jim Callis: I think he has fallen a little bit, though I still think he’d go in the top 5-10 picks if the draft were today. The weather up here–I live outside of Chicago–has been bitterly cold for most of the year, but I think the inconsistency of his secondary pitches and his command. His numbers aren’t bad at all (1.14 ERA, 46-13 K-BB in 39 IP) but he hasn’t shown scouts everything they’ve hoped for.

[Vervehound]

Manaea has a lot of question marks around him and missing starts with an injury can't help. Currently I just can't see him being a top 5 guy until he proves his stuff from the cape cod is really.

 

name five better players than him. manaea dominated over 57 innings this summer against the best amateur competition in the country.

 

i think there is a good chance he's avaiable at four. my gut says 1) gray 2) appel 3) frazier and 4) manaea.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

name five better players than him. manaea dominated over 57 innings this summer against the best amateur competition in the country.

 

i think there is a good chance he's avaiable at four. my gut says 1) gray 2) appel 3) frazier and 4) manaea.

 

I have a pretty strong suspicion that the Twins prefer Meadows to Frazier. I won't give up too much more til I do Draft Board v.3

[cmb0252]

name five better players than him. manaea dominated over 57 innings this summer against the best amateur competition in the country.

i think there is a good chance he's avaiable at four. my gut says 1) gray 2) appel 3) frazier and 4) manaea.

 

On my personal draft board I have Manaea ranked 8th, in my third tier, and the 4th best pitcher. That is mostly off ceiling and not performance.

[cmb0252]

I have a pretty strong suspicion that the Twins prefer Meadows to Frazier. I won't give up too much more til I do Draft Board v.3

 

I'm excited to see your draft board and compare it to mine. Especially because you clearly have Twins inside information that I do not.

[clutterheart]

my gut says 1) gray 2) appel 3) frazier and 4) manaea.

 

If the draft goes this way and Bryant is there the Twins have to take him.

[kab21]

Manaea has done just enough to stay in the 2nd tier of prospects.

 

Appel has moved to the top by himself although he might not get taken 1st

 

Gray - is ahead of Manaea

Meadows - All 3 of the hitters here make a strong case for #2 overall

Frazier

Humphries

Manaea - can he make a case to stay in this tier and not get drafted ahead of the Twins pick?

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Today's AskBA has Jim Callis saying that Appel and Gray have separated themselves from the pack.