Manning, the Tigers’ first rounder last year (#9 overall) out of Sheldon H.S. (Sacramento, CA), was bumped to Class A West Michigan a few days after my view in Connecticut on August 1, where he threw five innings and allowed an unearned run and four hits, while walking two and striking out seven. For the season, he has posted a 1.89 ERA over 33 innings, with 36 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .233 batting average against. Though his 14 walks are presently a well-below-average control number, both the command and control profile should improve as he massages the mechanics, logs more innings and moves up the ladder.

Manning has a tall and lanky, well-proportioned frame, and he has the athleticism to coordinate his delivery well for his size. He works without a wind-up and has a long arm action with some stab in the back, and shows quick arm speed through a 3/4’s slot. He’ll need to work on staying closed and finishing his delivery online for more consistency, and stay over the rubber to be most effective.

Manning’s fastball is a projectable plus pitch right now, sitting at 94 mph consistently, and working from 92-to-96 mph with run and bore to both side of the plate, and he is able to vary it with some hard sinking action down in the zone. He showed average command of the pitch in this view, but the command should reach plus at maturity. The pitch should reach double-plus velocity, and the plus movement and deception will generate swings and misses. The curveball is presently an inconsistent offering, but he shows solid two-plane depth and power with the pitch in the 80-to-82 mph range, and it also projects as a plus offering. The changeup also projects as plus, sitting in the 81-to-86 mph range, though it’s most effective in the lower end of the velo range where he shows good feel and fading action, and he’ll throw it to left-handed hitters. He should develop at least average command of both of the secondaries as he builds innings.

With the three-pitch mix projecting as plus or better across the board, Manning has a ceiling of a Role 65, number three starter in the big leagues with occasional glimpse of a number two not out of the question. He reminded me of Rick Porcello (RHP, Red Sox)