What to expect from A’s Manaea in big leagues

The Oakland Athletics will promote No. 65 overall prospect Sean Manaea to make his Major League debut on Friday at home against the Houston Astros.

The A’s No. 2 prospect and top-ranked pitching prospect is getting the call after his impressive start to the season at Triple-A Nashville, where he was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 21/4 K/BB ratio in 18 innings (three starts) for the Sounds.

Manaea, 24, was a candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2013 Draft before a hip injury derailed his junior season at Indiana State. He ultimately fell down the board to No. 34, where he was selected by the Royals and subsequently signed for a supplemental first-round record $3.55 million. Manaea flashed his potential the following year during his professional debut with Class A Advanced Wilmington, posting a 3.11 ERA and striking out 146 hitters in 121 2/3 innings across 25 starts.

Manaea’s progress stalled in early 2015 as a result of oblique and groin injuries, the combination of which resulted in nearly a three-month stint on the disabled list. He finally made his season debut in late June and received a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas a month later after series of strong outings for Wilmington. The A’s took notice of the southpaw’s success and made him their key acquisition in the deal …

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