Five Biggest Tigers’ Draft Busts Since 2000: Number Three

One of my favorite Tigers over the past decade sadly makes this list after providing a bit of excitement and hype, only to watch it all get flushed down the drain as a promising career was halted before it ever really got going.

Welcome back to this five-part series, where I go through the five biggest draft busts in the Detroit Tigers organization since the turn of the century in 2000.

Coming in at number three is pitcher Matt Manning, the ninth overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. It was a draft class that produced several talented major leaguers, including Cole Ragans, Will Smith and Bo Bichette. Unfortunately, Manning was one of the players selected in the first round who never lived up to the expectations that came with his draft position.

A fan favorite, Manning once looked poised to join Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize to form a three-headed monster in Detroit's rotation that could rival some of the Tigers' best rotations. Unfortunately, time was not kind to Manning, and he never reached the expectations that came with being the ninth overall pick.

Manning spent five years in the Tigers' minor league system before making his major league debut in 2021.

In his first season, Manning started 18 games, finishing with a 4-7 record and a 5.80 ERA. He struck out 57 batters across 85 1/3 innings pitched. The following season, he appeared in 12 games and showed improvement, posting a 3.43 ERA with 48 strikeouts.

Things were starting to look up for Manning. In 2023, he recorded his first winning season, finishing 5-4 in 15 appearances while posting a 3.58 ERA and striking out 50 batters.

The future was looking bright, but after Casey Mize and Reese Olson beat Manning out for the final two spots in Detroit's rotation, his path back to a permanent role with the Tigers became increasingly difficult.

Manning appeared in just five games for Detroit during the 2024 season. He posted a 4.88 ERA, struck out 23 batters and allowed 15 earned runs while finishing with an 0-1 record.

In 2025, Manning spent the entire season in Toledo with the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate. Across 31 appearances, including four starts, he finished with a 2-2 record and a 6.04 ERA. He recorded 52 strikeouts and two saves over 50 2/3 innings.

On July 31, 2025, the Tigers traded Manning to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Josueth Quinonez. Unfortunately, his struggles continued after the trade. In two starts with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Manning went 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA, striking out eight batters across five innings.

Manning eventually made his way to the KBO, where he was looking to get his career back on track. However, an injury requiring Tommy John surgery derailed those plans and ultimately cost him the entire 2026 season.

Manning never lived up to the hype surrounding his selection, and the ninth overall pick from 2016 lands at number three on the list of the Detroit Tigers' biggest draft busts since 2000.

Continue reading the series:

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number One]

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Two]

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Four]

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Five]