Detroit Tigers' Matt Manning: Stuck in minors, learning big lesson, waiting for MLB chance
NEW YORK — Detroit Tigers right-hander Matt Manning deserves to be pitching in the big leagues.
But he's stuck in the minors.
Manning was one of three pitchers in the mix for two spots in the Opening Day starting rotation. He lost out to fellow right-handers Reese Olson and Casey Mize in spring training, and as a result of how the competition unfolded, the Tigers demoted Manning to Triple-A Toledo.
He is a Mud Hen for the foreseeable future.
Manning was upset initially, but nearly two weeks later, he seems to be in a healthy headspace.
"I'm happy to be here and happy to compete at the highest level," Manning said. "I'll leave it at that. My situation sucks, but I'm not the first person to have it, and I won't be the last person to have it. I'm just enjoying any opportunity I get."
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The Tigers know Manning will help the team this season.
His opportunity to help the Tigers happened sooner than expected, in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the New York Mets at Citi Field. He didn't have his best pitches or his pinpoint pitch execution, but he completed 5⅔ innings before manager A.J. Hinch replaced him with left-handed reliever Tyler Holton after 90 pitches.
Manning had a no-hitter intact when Hinch pulled him.
"It was a no-brainer," Hinch said of replacing Manning with Holton, who struck out Brett Baty on three pitches to end the sixth inning but gave up the first hit in the bottom of the eighth. "We're trying to win the game, and that was the best route there."
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After Thursday's 2-1 loss, Hinch called Manning into his office to send him back to Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers only promoted Manning because there was an opening for him as the 27th man for the doubleheader.
Hinch shared his evaluation of Manning's performance.
"He was fighting it the whole time," Hinch said. "It wasn't his best, and he still got exactly the results we could have dreamed of, so I just talked to him in my office about how you're going to have days like that, and you look up — no hits and no runs. I mean, he had to battle the entire day."
Manning responded with the Triple-A competition on his mind.
"I just told him I got a lot to button up before I face the Indianapolis Indians," Manning said.
He was never going to stick around, no matter what he did against the Mets, even though he has allowed two or fewer hits in each of his last four MLB starts, dating back to last season.
Before Thursday's start, Manning started Opening Day for Triple-A Toledo on March 29 at Fifth Third Field. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across five innings against Triple-A Nashville, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
He looked like he needed a tougher test.
Manning posted a 3.38 ERA in spring training with seven walks and 19 strikeouts across 16 innings in five starts. He showcased an improved fastball, a second slider shape and a new splitter.
"I felt good about everything I did," Manning said. "It's really not about the work that I did, but it's more about the mental side and the emotional side. I thought I was going to be a really big part of this, and I can be a part of this, so it's just balancing this stuff."
He acted like a professional about his demotion.
"It sucks," Manning said. "I think all of you guys know exactly how I'm feeling about it, but I'm taking it. The last thing I want to do is be a hurt to this team, so any way I can contribute, that's what I'll do."
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Facing the Mets, Manning walked four batters and struck out three batters.
His most impressive inning was the third inning, when he walked Brandon Nimmo on six pitches and responded with back-to-back strikeouts against the best hitters in New York's lineup. He struck out Francisco Lindor swinging on a curveball and Pete Alonso swinging on a sweeper.
"I'm not worried about trying to pitch my way back up here or force things to happen," Manning said. "I'm enjoying pitching and competing wherever I'm at, and I'm just trying to get better every day."
Manning, who threw 54 of 90 pitches for strikes, used 41 fastballs, 36 sweepers, six sliders, six curveballs and one splitter. He generated seven whiffs (on 38 swings) with two fastballs, three sweepers, one slider and one curveball.
His fastball averaged 93.2 mph.
He was critical of his no-hit performance.
"I was like, I don't know how they're getting any hits right now because this is not good stuff," Manning said.
After Thursday's start, the Tigers — for the second time in two weeks — sent Manning to Triple-A Toledo, where he will remain until further notice. Even if he pitches well, he isn't guaranteed to join the Tigers without an injury from any of the five starters, prolonged poor performance from two of the five starters or more inclement weather before the summer months.
It's the reality of Manning's situation.
He isn't happy, but he is already learning from life as a Mud Hen.
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"Am I here to play baseball as a business or do I enjoy playing baseball?" Manning said. "I feel like that's what I finding out down in Toledo. I enjoy competing. I enjoy playing baseball."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Matt Manning: Stuck in minors, waiting for MLB chance
