Manaea's contract was selected from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Manaea will receive the start in Friday's game against the Astros after posting a 1.50 ERA with 21 strikeouts at the Triple-A level this season. It is unknown how long Manaea will stay with the A's during this stint, but manager Bob Melvin has not ruled out an extended stay for the 24-year-old.

Manaea has posted a 19:1 K:BB over 16 innings in three starts with High-A Wilmington since returning from an oblique injury in late June. It's reasonable to think that a promotion to Double-A is looming for Manaea, as he's already logged 27 starts in the Carolina League while handling the competition there capably. The Royals may have to consider flipping Manaea to acquire upgrades to the big league roster at the July 31 trade deadline, as he's currently the organization's top pitching prospect.

Manaea (oblique) will get the start Monday at High-A Wilmington, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports. Manaea, who is yet to pitch in a game this season, will make his first start of the year Monday at High-A. It's unclear how long he'll be down in High-A, however, as he dominated the competition at that level last year with a 3.11 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 121.2 innings.

Manaea (oblique) will make one more start at extended spring training in Arizona before being reassigned, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports. Manaea tweaked his groin last month while rehabbing an oblique injury, and the expectation is that he'll be sent to Double-A Northwest Arkansas once healthy. It's possible he could return to High-A Wilmington, where he starred last season, but the team would likely prefer that he advance to the next level.

Manaea (oblique) tweaked his groin and probably won't be sent to Double-A Northwest Arkansas until the third week of June, the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough reports. The 31st overall pick in the 2014 draft, Manaea has yet to pitch this season because of an abdominal strain, and the added groin injury will further delay his 2015 debut. He flashed his immense potential with High-A Wilmington last year, posting a 3.11 ERA and 10.8 K/9 over 121.1 innings.

Manaea (oblique) is about two weeks away from being sent to High-A Wilmington, MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reports. He threw one inning of relief against hitters in extended spring training Saturday, but his rehab has been a bit slower than anticipated. A 6-foot-5 lefty with a big fastball, Manaea is one of the best pitching prospects in the minor leagues when healthy, so it will be nice to see him get back into minor league action. He should be with Double-A Northwest Arkansas in short order if he can log a few solid starts with Wilmington.

Manaea (oblique) could appear in a minor league game next week, MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reports. Manaea has advanced to the point of facing hitters at the Royals' extended spring training complex, so a return to game action is not far off. It remains to be seen which affiliate he will make his first start with, but he figures see Double-A action at some point this season after posting a 3.11 ERA and striking out 146 batters in 121.2 innings with High-A Wilmington in 2014.

Manaea (oblique) has started throwing bullpen sessions at the team's spring training complex in Arizona and is likely a few weeks away from joining the Double-A rotation, according to the Northwest Arkansas coaching staff. The team wants him healthy for the second half of the season in case there is a need at the big league level, as Manaea may be the most advanced of the organizations bevvy of impressive minor league arms. A 6-foot-5 lefty with mid-90s cheese and two offspeed offerings with plus potential, Manaea comfortably projects to be at least a mid-rotation arm at the highest level.

Manaea is dealing with an oblique strain, and when it heals he will join the Double-A Northwest Arkansas rotation, the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough reports. It's not clear when Manaea suffered the injury, but it should not cut into his 2015 campaign too much. Once healthy he will join a loaded Naturals' rotation featuring Brandon Finnegan and Miguel Almonte, among others.