Summary:
Sean Manaea led all MLB starters in velocity gains during the 2023 season, turning a rough start into a dominant finish that led to a nine-figure contract. His journey was built on honesty, experimentation, and a willingness to completely overhaul how he moved.

Before Training:
After a tough end to the 2022 season, Manaea needed more than a tune-up. His velocity had dipped, his offspeed usage was scattered, and his role was uncertain. He reached out after the season and told me, “Don’t be afraid to f*** me up.” That gave us the green light to go all in.

What We Worked On:

• Velocity Development: Rebuilt from the ground up with a focus on sequencing, momentum, and delivery efficiency
  
  
  

• Changeup Tuning: Began reshaping the pitch to return to near 0 vertical break territory
  
  
  

• Pitch Arsenal Growth: Added a cutter heading into 2024 to round out the mix and manage platoon splits
  
  
  

Key Metrics:

• Fastball Velocity Gain (2023): MLB-leading +2.7 mph
  
  
  

• K-BB% (2nd half of 2023): 20.5%
  
  
  

• FIP (May–Season End): Top 5 among NL starters with 100+ innings
  
  
  

• 2024 Contract Outcome: Signed a $100M+ deal with the Mets
  
  
  

Reflection:
Manaea’s story is a reminder of how fast things can flip when the right work gets done. He had every reason to play it safe in his free agent year—and chose to do the opposite. We tore everything down, pushed velocity, then rebuilt his pitch mix on top of that. He showed up ready, stayed adaptable, and earned a completely new tier of career trajectory.

Videos / Content:

• Manaea Offseason Training

• Velocity Development Clip