Jeff Manship

[John Bonnes]

Right-handed pitcher for the Twins who is currently in AAA-Rochester. He was born in January of 1985, which means he is currently 27 years old.

 

Pre-Twins

He was a 14th round draft pick in 2006. He was originally drafted by the Diamondbacks, but went to Notre Dame instead. He missed his entire freshman year due to reconstructive elbow surgery.

 

Minor Leagues

Up until last year, he was exclusively a starter in the minors. His overall ERA in the minors is 3.49, and he has a 3+:1 K:BB ratio. However, his career strikeout rate is just 7.3.

 

Majors

After advancing steadily through the minors, Manship debuted with the Twins in 2009, working both as a starter and a reliever. He's bounced back and forth between Rochester and the majors since, but was sidelined a good chunk of last season with oblique and elbow issues. (The elbow issue was resolved when an bone spur was removed.)

 

This Year

Manship is working as a reliever in Rochester. He was very impressive in spring training with the Twins, and is off to an even better start with the Red Wings. So far, in 11 innings, he's struck out 10, walked 4, and given up 10 hits, none of which were home runs. All told that's resulted in a 0.82 ERA in early action.

[glennhl]

John, thanks for posting this. If you go earlier in his career Manship pitched one perfect game and four no-hitters in High School in San Antonio. I personally think Jeff will find a home with the Twins, but I'm still a believer that he's really a starter since he has 4 very good pitches. He is known for his curve ball which the Twins listed as a "plus-plus" curve. But he has a 91 to 94 mph 4 seamer and a low 90's 2 seamer that moves away from a lefty. He also has a slider and a very good change-up. And he's a great team player, one of the nicest young men you will ever meet.

[John Bonnes]

As you've seen elsewhere on this site, Manship was promoted back to the majors today. He started out the year as a reliever but was moved to the Rochester rotation, posting a 3.60 ERA as a starter in four games.

 

It would make sense if he started out as a long man out of the bullpen, but there is PLENTY of opportunity for a right-hander in the Twins bullpen right now. In Rochester, he had a K/9 ratio of 6.6 vs right-handers this year, and he's struggled a bit by giving up walks to both sides.

 

Good luck Jeff.

[Jim Crikket]

I'm hoping for the best for Manship. He's certainly put in his time. But the bottom line is that if he can't make THIS Twins pitching staff, his chances of making any MLB staff seem remote.

[greengoblinrulz]

No question the 27 yr old hasnt handled his MLB shots well yet.....

17gms 9 starts in AAA with 2.29 ERA overall in 63 innings (2.20 as starter in 45innings)with 42K 23bb & .254BAA

Anyone like to give him one more starter shot (after Frankies gone ???) or lose him next spring to options (he is out next spring) & have him be some other organizations version of Sam Deduno or PJ Walters

[glennhl]

So far Manship has not been called up to the Twins with the September Call-ups. If he doesn't get called up, I will be so darn disappointed.

 

Manship is out of options for next year and I would have thought the Twins would want to give him a good chance as a starter. Manship has done a lot better as a starter than a reliever as greengoblinrulz stated. Why? I'm thinking that he needs to pitch more often to be effective. And when he was a reliever with the Twins they hardly ever put him in on a regular basis. I think the Twins really messed up when they decided that Manship was going to be their next Matt Gurrier.

 

If you look at Jeff just as a starter with the Twins, he did very well in 2009 getting a very important win near the end of the season. He was pulled up and down in 2010 mainly as a reliever and never got much of a chance. He was hurt most of 2011, but when he was healthy was part of the no-hitter at Rochester that included 2 other pitchers. Then 2012, he again has gone up and down only as a reliever. His AAA numbers as a starter has been excellent this year. If he had started out the year as a starter in Rochester I'm betting he would be starting with the Twins right now.

 

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I just don't think the Twins ever gave Manship a fair shake as a starter with the big club. I think the Twins missed out on this one.