Royals Sign Sean Manaea

Jim Callis of Baseball America reported late last night that the Royals have signed supplemental first round pick Sean Manaea, a left handed pitcher from Indiana State.

Callis tweet read:

The $3.55 million deal signed by Manaea is a record for supplemental 1st round picks. Supplemental are awarded to teams who lose players to free agency, and are slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds.

The reason Manaea earned such a lucrative contract was that he is probably more talented than a supplemental pick should be. He was often mocked in the top 10 and probably would have been chosen there had it not been for injuries. The flame throwing southpaw has suffered numerous injuries over the last year, anywhere from shoulder tightness to a labrum tear in his hip.

The injuries weren’t enough to drop him too far though, as the Royals recognized his talent, and were willing to take a risk on his injuries.

Scout.com awarded Manaea the following scouting grades:

Current/Future

Fastball: 65/70

Slider: 50/60

Change-up: 55/60

Author of scout.com Kiley McDaniel then said this of his overall frame:

"Manaea is a rare, gifted athlete with a long, broad, filled-out 6’5, 235 pound frame that is rare to find at his age. He also is the rare young pitcher with a mid 90’s fastball whose arm doesn’t lag behind his body to help create the velocity. Manaea’s arm is pointing to the sky at foot plant and that really boosts his long-term prospects for health and command. He also has a clean arm action that’s above average despite a little length to the arm circle that costs him some deception (though that is cancelled out some by the angle he takes to the plate that helps hide his arm more behind his body)."

That is high praise for the college lefty, and I think it is safe to assume that if he stays healthy, he will have a very good career as a #2/3 starter for Kansas City.

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