Who is the better prospect? Alek Manoah or Nate Pearson?

[Terminator]

Manoah or Peason?

[G-Snarls]

Manoah

 

Throws more strikes

 

Lacks injury history

 

Seems less afraid of going after hitters

 

Stuff is as good or close to as good

 

Caveat: I probably carry unfair bias from having seen Pearson fail a bit at the major league level while Manoah hasn't faced MLB hitters outside of spring training

Edited May 14, 2021 by G-Snarls

[max silver]

I think Pearson still has the higher ceiling but Manoah is looking like he will hit his peak much sooner.

[Jimcanuck]

Based on Pearson last year in post season, the choice is obvious.

[Sammy225]

I think Pearson has better stuff but if you have good stuff and can't command it then its useless so if he can find the strike zone i think he will be better but until then we will see

[5minutesforframing]

Pearson to miss at least one start with a "minor" shoulder issue.

[wilko]

Pearson to miss at least one start with a "minor" shoulder issue.

 

Really? f***.

[Laika]

I don't accept that Nate Pearson has strike throwing issues. He has in small sample sizes but I think it is mostly due to inconsistent pitching schedules because of his injuries. Now he does have obvious injury problems.

 

He is still a guy who has barely pitched in the majors but dominated the minors, when healthy.

 

Everyone is right in this thread. Pearson higher upside but Manoah might be the better prospect because his upside is pretty close and he's much likelier to hit it. Manoah is Lance Lynn, I've always said it.

[Daniel Labude]

Pearson higher potential if everything goes perfect. Manoah has the better chance to hit his high potential. 1a and 1b

[Terminator]

Thanks for the participation ya'll. Just kind of something I was pondering earlier today and wanted to see what everyone though. It's crazy how fast things can change with pitching prospects. If you told someone before the season that you thought Manoah was the better prospect they'd think you're crazy. Now it looks like it's trending the other way.

[Laika]

Thanks for the participation ya'll. Just kind of something I was pondering earlier today and wanted to see what everyone though. It's crazy how fast things can change with pitching prospects. If you told someone before the season that you thought Manoah was the better prospect they'd think you're crazy. Now it looks like it's trending the other way.

 

I think a lot of that rapid change in status was ignorance from not getting to see what Manoah could have done in 2020. No stats.

 

From what we've seen this year, in a normal 2020 he is probably absolutely nuking A+ and AA and sliding into top 25 prospect status.

[wilko]

Thanks for the participation ya'll. Just kind of something I was pondering earlier today and wanted to see what everyone though. It's crazy how fast things can change with pitching prospects. If you told someone before the season that you thought Manoah was the better prospect they'd think you're crazy. Now it looks like it's trending the other way.

 

Still way to early to tell but the injuries/confidence/mechanics issues are concerning.

[Daniel Labude]

Thanks for the participation ya'll. Just kind of something I was pondering earlier today and wanted to see what everyone though. It's crazy how fast things can change with pitching prospects. If you told someone before the season that you thought Manoah was the better prospect they'd think you're crazy. Now it looks like it's trending the other way.

 

Also comes down to what you define as "better prospect"

[M.E.]

To me you have to be on the field and Pearson is too fragile and unreliable.

[Grant77]

It's Pearson for me, but the injury history is becoming very troubling. We know that he can throw strikes consistently based on his minor league track record and scouting reports. A couple of bad starts in the majors doesn't change any of that. Guys with stuff like Pearson succeed in the majors if they stay healthy. That's the only concern right now.

[glory]

If you asked me to pick one today I'd go with Manoah, but that's only because of Pearson's injury history. Manoah just looks like he will be a guy who will be a workhorse, but obviously pitchers are fragile regardless.

[TwistedLogic]

Manoah is quintessentially my type of prospect. Atypical body, not a whole lot of fanfare but incredibly polished and already does everything he needs to.

 

I like prospects that are good over prospects that should be good, even if the latter almost always have the higher ceilings.

 

I love Pearson but Manoah is the most excited I've been about a pitcher in the Jays system since the Lansing 3.

[Angrioter]

Alek Manoah is Lance Lynn

[Spanky99]

Pearson for me still, as LTBF said, more of a 1A - 1B situation, but this news really suxxxxx...

 

[Spanky99]

Thanks for the participation ya'll. Just kind of something I was pondering earlier today and wanted to see what everyone though. It's crazy how fast things can change with pitching prospects. If you told someone before the season that you thought Manoah was the better prospect they'd think you're crazy. Now it looks like it's trending the other way.

 

It's a great problem to have, buddy. Good poll question, don't forget about SWR, the reports coming in on him have been glowing. Also TINSTAAP...

[Spanky99]

Also comes down to what you define as "better prospect"

 

[BlueRocky]

Nate has the higher ceiling, but I've been pumping the tires on the Alek Manoah bandwagon for a very long time both on the forum and the podcast since he was drafted.

Hoping both of them will pitch for us this year, we need them if we're going to compete.

 

If his weight wasn't a question mark there's no chance he falls to 11, and I rather take a flyer on Manoah than injury history prospects like Thompson.

 

His current weight may not have a huge impact on his future production, he could be an absolute stud despite the frame question marks.

I'll repeat that I will withhold all judgment about this pick until I see him pitch for us, he could turn out terrific and we'll laugh in hindsight.

But there's no question some teams wondered about it and it's affected his stock:

 

 

There's no way to know how high he would be drafted if those questions were not there. But top college right-handed pitchers don't normally slide to 11. This could be great value for the Jays but there's some risk there as well, but they were obviously comfortable with the risk or else they wouldn't have picked him.

 

Zeuch lacks strikeout ability, a really plus breaking ball, and mostly a ground ball pitcher.

 

This isn’t exactly the case with Manoah. Not to mention Manoah sits 94-97 and touches 98-99.

 

Some scouting reports indicate his changeup flashes plus and had good tumbling action so there's some hope, he hasn't needed to use it much but the Jays seem optimistic about his chances sticking in the rotation. I really doubt a guy can dominate college baseball and become a golden spikes semi-finalist with just two working pitches, unless those two are absolutely filthy (65+ grade offerings). Div-I Big-12 is not a weak conference either.

 

There's a reasonable amount of upside to Manoah despite being a college junior because he was mostly a bullpen arm the first two years, there's probably more room for development than your typical college 3 year SP.

 

02-26-2020 Prediction:

Alek Manoah & Orelvis Martinez earns top 100 prospect status

 

Rising Prospects:

Alek Manoah: He’s got an electric fastball and a wipeout slider. Other secondaries improving. His stuff should play at Dunedin, I think he’s a top 100 prospect mid season. Has touched upper-90s in Vancouver.

 

On a brighter note, if Manoah and Simeon shoves in double-A they might get an early debut.

 

With half the pitching staff on the IL, how soon do you guys think we see Manoah and SWR?

[Daniel Labude]

 

Is the better prospect the one doing better now or that you project to be better if everything works out to perfection. Or is the better prospect the one with the most likely better outcome in the majors, or is it the one who is performing better in the minors overall, or is it the hottest prospect

 

People don't define/use the term better prospect equally

[Krylian]

Potential? Pearson.

 

But at this rate he's going to remain in the 'Permanent Potential' category if he can't stay healthy enough to ever realize it.

[Spanky99]

Is the better prospect the one doing better now or that you project to be better if everything works out to perfection. Or is the better prospect the one with the most likely better outcome in the majors, or is it the one who is performing better in the minors overall, or is it the hottest prospect

 

People don't define/use the term better prospect equally

 

lol... wtf???

[saskjayfan]

Pearson was the 14th pitcher taken in the 2017 draft. Manoah was the 2nd pitcher taken in the 2019 draft. Some people are making it sound like Manoah has come out of left field. He was the 2nd pitcher taken in his draft year. We just had a pandemic and forgot about him. Who has better stuff? No idea. The only time I saw Manoah pitch was in spring and he looked pretty nasty. He's barely got any stats and the minor league level. I wouldn't expect Pearson to have way better stuff because they were both 1st round picks. Manoah was the higher pick.

 

Some people love velocity. Sure Pearson has topped 100. Manoah is high 90s. Secondary pitches and command will rule the day. Both have good fastballs.

 

Personally, I don't care which is better. I hope they are both studs. I need to see a little more of Manoah before I could make a judgement. Pearson showed elite stuff in the playoffs for 2 innings, but I need to see more of that and consistency. At this point, I just want to see one of them up pitching instead of Anthony Kay. Manoah is the healthy one, so maybe he gets the next shot.

[Spanky99]

Alrighty then... lol.

[Jgarza868899]

It’s always something with Pearson. Injuries, command, his mechanics. Can’t wait to see Manoah get his first major league start. I’m buying the hype

[John Balkabella]

For $500, I’ll take too early to tell, Alex.

 

I do like the fact that Manoah isn’t afraid to throw strikes, though.

[Spanky99]

For $500, I’ll take too early to tell, Alex.

 

I do like the fact that Manoah isn’t afraid to throw strikes, though.

 

Did you vote?