San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Sean Manaea made his first start in a Giants uniform on Saturday and earned himself a spot in the rotation with his outstanding performance against the Kansas City Royals. Manaea tossed a strong 6 innings, allowing only 3 hits and 1 run, while accumulating 8 strikeouts and taking a no-decision. After the game, Giants manager Gabe Kapler praised Manaea’s work ethic and performance, saying he “earned the opportunity” to be in the discussion for a start next turn. Manaea, always looking to help his team win, humbly said he believes he can do the job as a starter and declared he is willing to play in whatever role he’s needed.
Manaea credits his improved velocity to the offseason he spent at Driveline Baseball. During the matchup, Manaea easily topped the 97mph mark and had great control of his pitches. He was able to stay ahead of the Royals, throwing strikes and mix his off-speed with his four-seamer to excellent results. His catcher for the game, Blake Sabol, was amazed at Manaea’s effectivity and performance. They both realized that they were the first Samoan battery in MLB history, an incredible milestone.
The Giants’ bullpen was unable to preserve the four-run lead Manaea left with, resulting in another frustrating loss, but Manaea still earned himself a starting spot with his outing and recognition from the boss. If given the chance to keep the position, Manaea will have plenty of time to prove that he deserves it and show that he can become a reliable option for the Giants.