Detroit Tigers: Can Matt Manning make the big jump in 2021?
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers are well underway with their 2021 Spring Training down in Lakeland. Could starting pitcher Matt Manning make the big league club? While in 2020, the Tigers made some monumental call-ups, especially when it comes to the pitching staff.
Both Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal made their big league debuts in 2020, but Matt Manning was nowhere to be found. When the Tigers went through “summer camp” or Spring Training 2.0 in 2020, Manning was not looking so good.
During the Tigers’ second round of training camp, Manning struggled with location and longevity. He was not quite hitting his spots and overall was just erratic when it came to his strike-throwing. This is highly unlike the right-hander, who has proven to be one of the organization’s best arms.
But, as the 2021 season draws near, Manning is fighting for that top prospect status once again. He is looking to prove he can earn a chance in the big leagues during the 2021 season. After some struggles in camp in 2020, which he supposedly fixed at the alternate training site, Manning is looking to turn heads.
The Detroit Tigers could call upon Matt Manning at any time during the 2021 season.
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While Spring Training continues on in Lakeland, the Detroit Tigers are going to start shaping out their roster.
One of the transfers to minor league camp is going to be Matt Manning. It is not a product of Manning being bad, but rather the Tigers feeling their rotation is stable enough at the big league level.
They may not be great, but with the addition of José Ureña to the pitching staff, the Tigers are likely to rock with “what they know” plus additions like Ureña.
Manning is not likely to be the first call-up; however, I would expect the right-hander to get his chances before the 2021 season comes to a close.
If Manning is back on track and can settle in comfortably, he could be a threat to move to the big league roster sooner than later as the Tigers move through the 2021 season. If anything, that should light a fire under the fringe pitchers in the rotation.
While in 2020, it was Mize and Skubal (mentioned above) who got the call-ups, Manning is due. He deserves a chance to prove himself. Manning should be able to get some innings at the big league level.
As the 2021 season inches closer and closer, expect Manning to be vying to any spot he can fill with the big league roster. If he is not on the active roster, expect to be one of the first call-ups, if not one of the first call-ups.
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The Detroit Tigers should want to see what he brings to the table; 2021 will be the perfect chance for that when it comes to gauging Matt Manning’s value.