Seth Maness

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #23 prospect in 2013
  By his own admission, Maness' fastball isn't overpowering, but he has the uncanny ability to put it wherever he wants. Signed for $1,000 as an 11th-round college senior in 2011, he went 42 innings into his first full pro season before he walked a batter. He led the minors with 0.5 walks per nine innings last year, a rate that was less than half of his closest competitor. Maness knows he has to rely on movement and pitch to contact, which he does by pinpointing an 89-91 mph sinker to both sides of the plate. Some scouts give him 70 command on the 20-80 scale. He relentlessly throws strikes and mixes in a slider and a changeup that both have a chance to be average. Maness started his East Carolina career as a two-way player before shifting to the mound full-time and setting school records for career wins (38) and strikeouts (334). He uses a lot of upper body in his delivery, though he's consistent with his mechanics and his arm speed. The Cardinals have a lot of talented pitchers in the high minors, but Maness' reliability could be enough to earn a spot in the Triple-A rotation this year.