Mets' Sean Manaea Enjoys Long Ride to Becoming Unofficial Ace of Pitching Staff

From Journeyman to Anchor

When the Mets acquired Sean Manaea from the Oakland Athletics this past offseason, he was seen as a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm. However, through the first three months of the season, Manaea has emerged as the team's unofficial ace.

A Consistent Force

Manaea has been a model of consistency for the Mets, making 12 starts and posting a 2.81 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings pitched. He has allowed just three home runs all season, a testament to his ability to keep the ball in the park.

Stepping Up in Key Moments

In addition to his impressive overall numbers, Manaea has also been a big performer in key moments for the Mets. He has pitched seven scoreless innings in two of his last three starts, including a complete-game shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 10.

A Welcome Surprise

Manaea's emergence as the Mets' ace has been a welcome surprise for the team. With Jacob deGrom still working his way back from an injury, Manaea has stepped up to fill the void at the top of the rotation.

Praise from Manager

Mets manager Buck Showalter has been full of praise for Manaea, saying, "He's been our guy. He's been our rock. He's been our most consistent starter."

A Long Road

Manaea's journey to becoming the Mets' ace has been a long one. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2016 and spent four seasons with the team before being traded to the Athletics in 2020.

Manaea had a solid season with the Athletics in 2021, posting a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts. However, he struggled in 2022, going 11-9 with a 4.96 ERA in 30 starts.

The Mets are glad they took a chance on Manaea this offseason. He has been a key part of their success in the first half of the season and looks poised to continue to be a force for the team in the second half.