Tigers shut down prospects Manning, Faedo
DETROIT -- Tigers pitching prospects Matt Manning and Alex Faedo will not be joining Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal in the big league rotation in 2020. The two have been shut down for the season after dealing with right forearm strains, general manager Al Avila announced.
The decision was made as a precaution, Avila said, due to the shortened season. Both had been throwing at the alternate training site in Toledo.
“We have decided with the recommendations of our medical people to shut both guys down for the remainder of the season,” Avila said on a Thursday afternoon video conference. “Both guys throughout the training camp have come up with a slight strain of the right forearm, each guy the same thing. And as opposed to trying to push this through and see if we can get them out of that in the short period of time that we have left, we felt that it was more prudent to just shut them down for the season at this point and continue a rehab process and then starting a throwing program and getting them ready for next year.”
Manning, the third-ranked prospect in the Tigers’ system and the No. 25 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, made an impression in Spring Training with a power fastball that topped out at 100 mph in a game. He struggled a bit in Summer Camp but still made a solid impression before being optioned to Toledo to continue workouts.
The 22-year-old Manning won Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors last season at Double-A Erie.
Faedo, the Tigers’ No. 10 prospect and 2017 first-round pick, also had a good Spring Training but missed Summer Camp along with Skubal. The 24-year-old right-hander was seen as a strong prospect to make his MLB debut later this season.
“Faedo obviously missed Summer Camp, went to the alternate training site in Toledo, so he had a later start, had to catch up from the get-go,” Avila said. “With Manning, I think maybe he was trying to do a little bit too much. And so with what we have left, a month left, we just thought it's not worth trying to get them back in a rushed manner. If this were a normal year where you have six months, a full season, we could've certainly gone through a rehab process, get them back to pitching in the Minor Leagues and at some point probably even promoting them to the big leagues. But based on what we have left here in the season, looking at it the smarter way is just to be more conservative and taking our time and start looking to next year for them.”
The Tigers consulted with four doctors regarding the injuries, including team physician Dr. Stephen Lemos, Avila said. The plan is to have them rest and rehab in preparation for next season.
Notes
• Avila said he has talked to about 20 clubs in recent days leading up to Monday’s Trade Deadline, but said the uncertainty over next season was an obstacle in trade discussions. “I wouldn't say we're sellers and I wouldn't say we're buyers,” Avila said. “I'd say we're looking for an opportunity to make our team better this year, next year and the year after that.”
• Avila confirmed top prospect Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 pick in this year’s MLB Draft, will not be called up this year. The former Arizona State slugger has been working in Toledo on his conversion to third base.
• With Manning and Faedo done for the season, the Tigers will likely add some prospects to their player pool to work out in Toledo. Those announcements could happen this week, Avila said.
• Daz Cameron is close to coming off the injured list, Avila said. He missed Summer Camp before opening the season on the IL without a listed injury.