As the WVU baseball team prepares for the first Super Regionals appearance Friday night, former Mountaineers are nearing the midseason mark in the MLB.
All-Star voting has recently opened, with the game taking place on July 16. With that, let’s look at how West Virginia baseball alumni are performing in the majors.
Alek Manoah
The Toronto Blue Jays’ former first-round pick, Alek Manoah, has been back up in the majors after struggling in 2023 and starting 2024 in the minors making a rehab assignment. The 6-foot-6 righty started his season pitching on three straight Sundays, where he picked up a win and a loss, recording six or more strikeouts in each outing. However, on May 29, Manoah left Toronto’s game against the Chicago White Sox after one-and-two-thirds innings with elbow comfort, landing on the 15-day IL. On the season, Manoah has a 1-2 record, a 3.70 earned run average, with 26 strikeouts over 24.1 innings.
John Means
Former Mountaineer and current Baltimore Oriole John Means also started his 2024 campaign making a rehab assignment and is also currently on the 15-day IL. He’s made four starts this season, pitching 20.1 innings, with a 2.61ERA and 16 strikeouts. In Means’ last start on May 22, he was pulled by O’s manager Brandon Hyde after three innings, as he also dealt with elbow discomfort.
Michael Grove
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Michael Grove has appeared in 23 games this season, pitching 30.1 innings. After struggling in his first couple of appearances in the season he has gradually lowered his ERA as it now sits at 5.04. He has 39 strikeouts on the year and has tallied six holds. In Grove’s last appearance, he threw two innings in relief striking out two and walking one, giving him his sixth hold in a 4-0 Dodgers win over the Colorado Rockies this past Sunday.
Photo Courtesy of WVU Athletics
