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Matt Manning

Matthew George Manning (born January 28, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a . A right-handed , he was selected by the Tigers with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the out of Sheldon High School in . Manning made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2021 and spent four seasons with the organization, appearing in 50 games (all starts) with an 11–15 win–loss record, a 4.43 (ERA), and 178 strikeouts over 254 . In July 2025, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he spent the remainder of the season in the before electing free agency on November 6, 2025. Manning's professional career began after signing with the Tigers for a $3.51 million following his draft selection as one of the top prep pitchers in the country. He progressed steadily through the Tigers' system, posting a 3.02 from 2017 to 2019, including a strong 2020 campaign in the alternate training site amid the . His MLB debut came on June 17, 2021, against the , where he earned a no-decision in a 7–5 loss after allowing two runs in five innings. Manning showed promise in 2022 and 2023, achieving ERAs below 3.60 in limited starts, but injuries and inconsistency limited his role in 2024 to five starts before the trade. Throughout his big-league tenure, Manning relied on a four-seam fastball averaging 94 mph, complemented by a slider, curveball, and changeup, though command issues contributed to a 1.29 walks-plus-hits-per-inning-pitched rate. In 2025, he did not appear in the majors, instead logging time at Triple-A Toledo for the Tigers early in the year (6.04 ERA in 50.2 innings) before the trade to Philadelphia on July 31, 2025, in exchange for minor league outfielder Josueth Quiñonez. With the Phillies, Manning was assigned to Double-A Reading, where he struggled with a 6.47 combined ERA across Double- and Triple-A levels for the season. On September 13, 2025, the Phillies designated him for assignment to clear a roster spot; he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Reading two days later, concluding his brief stint with the organization. At age 27, Manning enters free agency with two years of MLB service time, positioning him for pre-arbitration eligibility in his next contract.

Early life and amateur career

Early life and family

Matt Manning was born on January 28, 1998, in , a suburb of Sacramento. He was raised in an athletic family that emphasized sports from an early age. His father, Rich Manning, is a former professional basketball player drafted by the in the second round (40th overall) of the ; Rich appeared in 55 NBA games over two seasons with the and while also playing eight years professionally overseas. Manning's mother, Kristan, supported the family's sports-oriented lifestyle, and his two brothers further immersed the household in competition: older brother Ryan played basketball for the , and younger brother Jake played volleyball at . Manning's early exposure to sports came through his father's , as he tagged along to sessions starting at age two or three and tried various activities under Rich's guidance. This family dynamic sparked his interest in both —where he excelled as a high school scorer averaging 26 points per game—and , leading him to initially weigh a basketball career before committing to pitching. Growing up in the Sacramento area, Manning benefited from a regional culture that nurtures young , with local facilities and competitive environments shaping his foundational development in sports.

High school baseball career

Matt Manning attended Sheldon High School in , from 2012 to 2016, where he emerged as a standout two-sport athlete in and . As a right-handed and , Manning transitioned primarily to the mound during his sophomore year, showcasing significant velocity and athleticism that drew attention from scouts. His family's athletic background, including his father Rich Manning's NBA , influenced his multi-sport development, though he ultimately prioritized . During his senior season in 2016, Manning excelled on the mound for the Sheldon Huskies, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.91 and recording 77 strikeouts over 40 1/3 , while limiting opponents to a low walk rate. He also contributed offensively, hitting .333 with four home runs and 19 RBIs. Manning's performances helped the Huskies reach the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time since 2004, and his reached up to 95 in amateur showcases, earning him honors as a at the Perfect Game National Underclass Showcase in . His projectable 6-foot-6 frame and mid-90s velocity highlighted his potential as a top prospect. Manning received widespread recognition for his senior year, including first-team All-State roster by MaxPreps for large schools and the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Super Elite First Team, as well as the All-Metro team. In amateur rankings, he was rated No. 9 overall nationally and No. 3 among right-handed pitchers by , and No. 13 overall by . Despite committing to play both and at , Manning opted to enter the 2016 MLB Draft after being heavily scouted for his dual-sport potential, particularly his basketball prowess where he averaged 26 points per game as a senior. This decision marked the culmination of his high school journey, positioning him as one of the top amateur prospects in the country.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

Manning was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the out of Sheldon High School in . He signed with the team on June 23, 2016, receiving a of $3,505,800, the slot value for his draft . Following his signing, Manning began his professional career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) with the GCL Tigers in 2016, where he made 10 starts and recorded a 0–2 record with a 3.99 ERA over 29.1 innings pitched. In 2017, he advanced to short-season A-ball with the Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League, posting a 2–2 mark and 1.89 ERA in nine starts across 33.1 innings, before a late-season promotion to Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he went 2–0 with a 5.60 ERA in five starts over 17.2 innings. Manning's 2018 season saw further progression across three levels: he started at West Michigan (3–3, 3.40 ERA in 11 starts, 55.2 innings), moved to High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers (4–4, 2.98 ERA in nine starts, 51.1 innings), and made two starts at Double-A Erie SeaWolves (0–1, 4.22 ERA, 10.2 innings); an oblique strain sidelined him briefly in spring training that year. By 2019, Manning established himself at Double-A Erie for the full season, achieving a breakout campaign with an 11–5 record, 2.56 ERA, and 133 strikeouts in 133.2 innings over 24 starts. Throughout his tenure from 2017 to 2020, Manning was consistently rated as the Tigers' No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline. He cracked MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list in 2019, entering preseason at No. 78 before rising to No. 26 by season's end due to his dominant Double-A performance, and held the No. 24 overall spot entering 2020. Key to his development was refining his command and mechanics, which helped his velocity climb into the 95–97 range by 2019, complementing a plus that generated significant swing-and-miss rates. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the , leaving Manning without official games. Instead, he reported to the Tigers' alternate training site in , where he focused on maintaining conditioning and pitch development as part of the 60-man player pool; however, he was shut down in late August with a minor right forearm strain. Manning returned to throwing by the instructional league in October and was commended by the organization for his and during the disrupted year.

2021 season

Matt Manning made his debut on June 17, 2021, starting for the Detroit Tigers against the at . Pitching 5 innings, he allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs, while recording 3 strikeouts and 2 walks, but took the loss in a 7-5 defeat. Manning later reflected on experiencing pre-game nerves, though he managed to settle in during the outing, which featured a reaching 96.6 mph. Following a strong stint with the Triple-A , where he posted a 1.44 over five starts in May, his promotion filled a rotation spot amid the Tigers' pitching needs. Manning secured his first MLB win in his next appearance on June 23 against the St. Louis Cardinals at , delivering 5.2 innings of work with 5 hits and 2 earned runs allowed, 1 strikeout, and just 1 walk in a 6-2 victory. However, challenges emerged in subsequent starts, including a rough outing on June 28 at the Indians, where he surrendered 9 earned runs over 3.2 innings on 9 hits, contributing to ongoing command issues. He showed promise on July 4 against the (5 IP, 1 ER, 4 K) and July 9 at the (4 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, no hits allowed through four innings), but was optioned to Triple-A Toledo the following day after the All-Star break to refine his mechanics. Recalled after the break, Manning rejoined the rotation on July 21 against the , continuing as a for the remainder of the season without major injuries. His year was marked by adaptation struggles, particularly with , as he issued 33 walks in 85.1 for a 3.48 BB/9 rate. Overall, Manning finished the 2021 season with a 4-7 record, a 5.80 , 57 strikeouts, and 18 starts over 85.1 for the Tigers.

2022 season

Matt Manning began the 2022 season as part of the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, making two early appearances before an injury sidelined him for several months. On April 11, he earned a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox, allowing one earned run over six innings with just one hit and no walks. His next outing on April 16 at the was shorter, as he lasted only two innings while surrendering one earned run on five hits. Manning was placed on the 10-day on April 20 (retroactive to April 17) due to right , missing over three months of action. He returned to the majors on August 2, resuming his role in the without transitioning to appearances. Over his final 10 starts, Manning showed signs of adjustment from his year challenges, compiling a 2-3 record with a 3.43 , 19 walks, and 48 strikeouts across 63 in 12 total appearances—all starts. Key highlights included a career-best outing on August 7 against the , where he pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out seven. Another strong performance came on August 24 versus the San Francisco Giants, as Manning delivered six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and no walks en route to his first win of the season. He capped the year with a complete seven-inning effort against the on September 16, permitting only three hits. During his recovery and return, Manning refined his pitch mix, introducing a new slider grip that added more horizontal and reduced vertical drop compared to prior versions, making it his most effective secondary offering. He also continued developing his to complement his fastball-slider combination, aiming for greater consistency in generating swings and misses. These adjustments contributed to sharper overall upon his activation.

2023 season

In 2023, Matt Manning solidified his role in the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, appearing in 15 games—all starts—while compiling a 5–4 record, a 3.58 , 78 , and 50 strikeouts. This marked a rebound from prior injury-limited seasons, though he spent time on the twice, including from mid-April to late June due to a right foot . Manning's improved command was evident in his season-long 1.04 , the lowest of his career to that point, reflecting refinements to his pitching repertoire that emphasized better location on his and . A career highlight came on July 8 against the Toronto Blue Jays, when Manning anchored a combined —the ninth in Tigers history and the first since Jack Morris's solo effort in 1984. He delivered 6⅔ scoreless innings, scattering three walks and one hit batsman while striking out five, before handing off to relievers and to seal the 2–0 victory at . Manning later noted he was unaware of the in progress until informed in the dugout, underscoring his focus amid the pressure. Manning delivered additional quality outings later in the season, including back-to-back scoreless starts in late August: 6⅓ innings of one-hit ball against the Houston Astros on August 25 and six innings of two-hit pitching versus the New York Yankees on August 31. These performances contributed to his overall effectiveness, with opponents hitting just .229 against him and a .286 on-base percentage, helping stabilize the Tigers' rotation during a rebuilding phase.

2024 season

Manning's 2024 season with the Detroit Tigers was limited by injury, as he made five starts in the majors, posting a 0–1 record, 4.88 , 27.2 , and 23 strikeouts. He spent much of the year at Triple-A , where he recorded a 2–5 mark with a 4.28 . Injuries disrupted Manning's season, with a right lat strain in July placing him on the after a minor league start on , sidelining him for over a month. These issues contributed to an elevated rate and command problems, reflected in a above 1.40 in the majors. Manning provided spot starting duties early in the year but was unable to secure a consistent role amid the Tigers' pitching staff needs.

2025 season

Manning spent the entire 2025 season in the minor leagues. He began the year optioned to the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, where he appeared in 31 games (4 starts) and posted a 2–2 record with a 6.04 ERA over 50.2 innings pitched. On July 31, 2025, the Tigers traded Manning to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league outfielder Josueth Quiñonez. Following the trade, he was assigned to High-A Clearwater before moving to Double-A Reading on August 30, where he made two starts, allowing 6 earned runs over 5 innings for a 10.80 ERA. Overall in 2025 minors across both organizations, Manning had a 2–3 record with a 6.47 ERA, 60 strikeouts, and 44 walks in 33 appearances (6 starts) over 55.2 innings. The Phillies designated Manning for on September 12, 2025, to clear a roster spot. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A Reading on September 15. On November 6, 2025, Manning elected free agency, concluding his tenure with both organizations. Through the end of the 2025 season, Manning's career statistics totaled an 11–15 record, a 4.43 , and 178 strikeouts in 50 appearances. His early promise as a top prospect had faded amid persistent inconsistencies and injuries.

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