VIDEO: Tigers Pitching Prospect Matt Manning Shows Off Cat-Like Reflexes With Sweet Barehanded Play
By Adam Weinrib
A lot of the Tigers' prospect shine has fallen on Casey Mize these days (and rightfully so), but don't forget about Double-A Erie's Matt Manning. Along with Alex Faedo, they make up the Three Musketeers of that rotation, and Manning showed off a bit of that flourish in Sunday's Futures Game, nabbing a bouncer barehanded and finishing off the play.
Put it in your back pocket, Harold?@MattManning19 with the stellar bare-handed play. #FuturesGame @tigers pic.twitter.com/2KHpel6WJ8
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 8, 2019
Manning unfortunately couldn't finish the fourth inning scoreless, but this gem is what should live on in the minds of most viewers.
The boys meet Detroit’s Matt Manning in the dugout as he comes out of the #FuturesGame. @MLBPipeline pic.twitter.com/jhbh3mX8AG
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) July 8, 2019
The 21-year-old Manning is finding a zone at Double-A this season, as the 2016 first-rounder has posted a 2.77 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 106 in 91 innings pitched (allowing just 64 hits!).
Manning's teammates bailed him out afterwards, too, escaping the inning with just two runs scored. Guess he's got plenty of strong amigos to rely on here, too. Just like being back in Erie.