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Manaea is working to hone his slider in spring training, Joe Stiglich of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old southpaw, currently penciled in as the A's' No. 2 starter, is working on the slider as a third pitch to go with his fastball and changeup. His progress has already caught the eye of manager Bob Melvin, who remarked that Manaea "really impressed" with the pitch in a Friday throwing session. Both Melvin and Manaea feel the third pitch will help take the promising hurler to the next level after a promising 2016 rookie season. The lefty hopes to build on the momentum he generated over his final nine starts, during which he went 4-3 with a 2.41 ERA, with victories in three of his last four trips to the mound.
