MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (January 28, 2019) –West Virginia University baseball junior right-handed pitcher Alek Manoah has been named to the Baseball America Preseason All-America Second Team, the publication announced today.
Manoah is WVU’s eighth preseason All-American in program history and the fifth since 2014. The Mountaineers have back-to-back preseason All-America honors for the first time in program history, after current senior outfielder/right-hander Braden Zarbnisky was recognized on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s first team last year.
A Miami native, Manoah made 23 appearances on the mound as a sophomore in 2018, tied for eighth-most in a single season in program history. He made eight starts and finished second on the team with 60 strikeouts. Manoah posted a 3-5 record with two saves and a 4.00 ERA and allowed 24 earned runs on 53 hits with 28 walks in 54.0 innings pitched.
A 2017 Big 12 All-Freshman Team honoree, Manoah made 19 appearances on the mound with 10 starts and recorded a 1-1 record with two saves in his first season in Morgantown. He started the season as a reliever and transitioned to closer before moving to a starter. Manoah posted a 3.07 ERA, which ranked fourth on the team among pitchers with more than 3.0 innings pitched and second amongst pitchers with at least three starts. He gave up 19 earned runs on 43 hits with 45 strikeouts and 33 walks in 55.2 innings pitched.
In his career, Manoah has made 42 appearances on the mound. In 109.2 innings pitched, he owns a 3.53 ERA with 105 strikeouts and 61 walks. He has allowed 43 earned runs on 96 hits.
Baseball America’s All-America team is voted on by major league organizations’ scouting departments, with selections based on performance, talent and professional potential.
Cover Photo: Jeff RufF, BGS
Press Release: WVU Athletics Communications
