#55 Joey Manning Season 2008-09
OF
Coach Corbin Quote: Joey has a chance to challenge for one of the outfield spots this year. He is a big, strong kid who has improved defensively and as a hitter. He is very self motivated and works on his game all the time.
2008: Batted .286 with one run scored and one RBI…First collegiate appearance came in a pinch hitting role against Arizona State (2/23), going 1-for-1 with a run scored…Drove in first collegiate run against Xavier (3/2)…Made first career start against Western Carolina (3/12)…Made second start of the season against Western Kentucky (4/8), going 1-for-2 with first career walk … Hit .200 with two homeruns in 29 games for Newport in the New England Collegiate Baseball League over the summer. Batted .250 with one homerun and one RBI in NECBL playoffs. Team won Southern Division title before falling to Sanford in championship.
High School: Listed as the No. 53 prospect in the talent-rich state of Florida by Baseball America entering the June 2007 draft … Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 47th round of the draft, despite already being enrolled and attending Vanderbilt summer school … Helped lead Bartow High to district and regional finals in 2005-06 and district finals in 2007 … Named first team all-state and all-county in 2005-06 … Picked up all-state honorable mention and first team all-county honors in 2004-05 … Three-year starter in baseball and basketball … Earned second-team all-county in hoops … Was team captain in both sports in junior and senior years … Played in the Cape Cod High School All-Star game.
Personal: Jeremiah L. Manning Jr. … Goes by Joey … Born 10/2/88 …. Son of Jeremiah and Laurie Manning (both are hearing impaired)… Has a brother, Jeremy and a sister, Mara … Undecided on a major… Favorites include David Ortiz, Dwight Howard, Pizza, Lil Wayne, Family Guy and all of the Harry Potter movies… Favorite vacation spot is Ruskin, Fla. and Newport, R.I. … Chose Vanderbilt because it was the perfect combination of superior academics and athletics. There is a great coaching staff and it is the best place for me to develop my skills as a baseball player and as a person.