From Outfields to Strikeouts: Alex Mansa's Quest for the Major Leagues
Granville, W. Va. -As an 18-year-old at Farmington High School in Michigan, Alex Manasa's baseball dreams involved patrolling big-league outfields and crushing homeruns into the upper decks. Two years later, Manasa is still chasing his Major League dreams-with a bit of a twist. "I didn't get as many offers out
Granville, W. Va. -As an 18-year-old at Farmington High School in Michigan, Alex Manasa's baseball dreams involved patrolling big-league outfields and crushing homeruns into the upper decks.
Two years later, Manasa is still chasing his Major League dreams-with a bit of a twist.
"I didn't get as many offers out of high school as I wanted, so I decided to go to junior college to keep my options open," said Manasa. "I was blessed to pick up pitching a little bit more, and now I'm here."
Looking to make a name for himself among MLB scouts, Manasa played at Jackson Community College in 2017. Playing for the Jets, just an hour away from Farmington, the righty dominated as both a relief pitcher and an outfielder, helping his team to a record of 37-12-2.
Although Manasa led the team with a .410 batting average, it was his arm that drew the attention of big-league scouts. In just 21.1 innings of work from the bullpen, Manasa had five saves for Jackson Community College with a 1.27 ERA, striking out 31 batters while walking only three.
When the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted the 6-foot 4-inch, 195-pound prospect in the 11th round as a pitcher, Manasa realized his arm might be his ticket for a chance at the Majors.
"It was definitely interesting," Manasa said of switching to pitching full-time. "I'd always been a position player, but my dream was always to play pro baseball, so whatever they wanted me for I was excited."
After signing with the Pirates in the summer of 2017, Manasa was sent to Bristol, Virginia to play for the organization's rookie-level affiliate in the Appalachian League. Jumping right into the professional ranks, he immediately noticed the talent difference between junior college players and young pro prospects.
"In junior college, you can just throw strikes and you get people out," said Manasa. "Here, you have to game plan and know how to sequence against certain hitters. It's definitely a learning process."
Manasa struggled to begin last summer. In his first relief appearance, the righty was welcomed to professional baseball by giving up a two-run homer in the fourth inning in a 4-2 loss to the Greeneville Astros.
However, as he continued to work on his game, Manasa saw consistent improvement throughout the rest of the season.
"I struggled a little bit at first," Manasa said." It might've been nerves, but once I realized I deserved to be there and that they drafted me for a reason, I just came into my own. I was more comfortable and started to see more success and development in my pitches."
Manasa finished his season with Bristol with a 2-1 record, boasting a 3.27 ERA to go with 35 strikeouts and just seven walks in 38 innings of work.
Moving up to play with the Black Bears in 2018, the Pirates prospect has the opportunity to develop his game even further. After impressing first year Manager Kieran Mattison and Pitching Coach Tim Filer, Manasa was named the starter for Opening Day against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
"I've been working during all of extended [spring training] to get my innings up to be able to go deeper into games with my endurance," said Manasa before the start. "I'm excited to have the opportunity, and I hope to show what I can do."
Manasa, in fact, did show what he's capable of doing when he's on the mound. In six innings of work, the righty allowed only one run on five hits, striking out three batters with one walk in a no-decision.
With his first start under his belt, Manasa brings a young arm to the Black Bears with a lot of potential for the future. Even so, the twenty-year-old is taking it one day at a time, always working towards his dream of playing in the Majors.
"I'm just excited to keep developing and learning-just to learn something new every day and keep improving my game," said Manasa. "I'm just excited for the season and I hope it can be a successful one."
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.