GRANVILLE — Alek Manoah’s performance in the spotlight Friday night did not go as hoped, but the good news for the West Virginia junior is that big-league scouts still hold the big right-hander in high regard.
“He has one of the best breaking balls in the country,” said one National League scout.
That scout was hardly alone at Monongalia County Ballpark on Friday night. WVU credentialed 60 scouts for Friday night’s game against TCU — enough to cover two for each Major League team — and more than half of them showed up to see Manoah square off against TCU lefty Nick Lodolo.
MLB.com ranks Manoah as the No. 2 college pitching prospect in next month’s MLB draft behind Lodolo.
The infatuation with Manoah’s sliderwas evident. When he snapped one off against TCU’s Alex Isola in the first inning, every scout with a notebook immediately jotted down notes about the pitch.
Unfortunately for Manoah, the night as a whole was not a demonstration of the stuff he had on display over his previous four starts. He came in to Friday night allowing one run and striking out 49 in his previous 33 innings.
Manoah had his roughest outing since March 22 at Baylor, allowing four earned runs in 6-plus innings. He tied his season highs in most hits allowed (eight) and most walks (four). He also surrendered two home runs after coming into the game having allowed one all season.
The second homer was a clear sign of fatigue. Randy Mazey tried to squeeze a seventh inning out of Manoah, but TCU’s Johnny Rizer hit a leadoff homer to right-center on Manoah’s 120th pitch of the night.
Despite his not being in vintage form, scouts who spoke to the Dominion Post had positive feedback on what they’ve seen from Manoah most of the season.
Among the things they had to say about the probable first-round draft pick:
- “His velocity has picked up this year.”
- “He’s flashed a lot of control.”
- “Has a good demeanor on the mound.”
- “He’s in control out there. He feels it when he has the lead.”
