Villanova Univeristy Athletics

Villanova Career: Four-year member of the Villanova roster who played from the 2018-21 seasons … Powerful left-handed batter who hit four home runs with a .462 slugging percentage over his final two seasons … Demonstrated a great work ethic with a team-first approach throughout his collegiate career … Versatile defensive player who made career starts at second base and third base in addition to both corner outfield spots … Played in 66 games overall with 32 starts for the Wildcats … Went 17-for-130 at the plate with 13 runs scored, 13 runs batted in, four doubles and four home runs … Drew 17 walks, was hit by a pitch six times and struck out 66 times … Hit two sacrifice flies … In the field had 28 putouts, 33 assists and seven errors in 68 chances … Named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team in 2020-21 and was a four-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
 
2021: Played in 14 games with nine starts and had a .469 slugging percentage in 32 at-bats … Had two doubles and two home runs on the year while batting .219 (7-for-32) with four runs scored and six runs batted in … Drew four walks, was hit by a pitch twice and posted a .342 on-base percentage over 38 plate appearances … His season debut came at Delaware on March 14 when he delivered a pinch-hit two-run home run in the fifth inning … Stayed in that game as the designated hitter and later walked to force in another run in an eventual 11-10 victory … Had a season-high three RBI in that contest … Went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI against Xavier on May 2 as the Wildcats clinched a series win over the eventual BIG EAST runner-up … Hit a solo home run and drew a walk in a 6-4 win over Georgetown at Citizens Bank Park on May 7 to help key the start of  three-game sweep over the Hoyas … Started four games in left field and five as the designated hitter … Recorded seven putouts in the outfield.
 
2020: Started all six games he appeared in during the abbreviated season … Made three starts at third base, two in left field and one as the designated hitter … One of three hitters on the team with multiple home runs on the year … Went 3-for-20 at the plate with three runs scored, two homers and three runs batted in … Walked once, was hit by a pitch and struck out seven times … Recorded six assists and an error in the field … Hit his first collegiate home run in a win over Eastern Michigan and then added another homer versus Western Michigan four days later … In between those two games went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in a win over Saint Louis.
 
2019: Saw action in 14 games with four starts while playing second base, third base and the outfield … Had one hit, one run scored and two runs batted in for the season … Drew three walks, was hit by a pitch once and had a sacrifice fly … Started in right field against St. Bonaventure and went 1-for-4 with a walk in a 16-3 win … Drove in two runs at Army West Point.
 
2018: Played in 32 games with 13 starts … A third baseman by trade, he earned playing time at second base midway through the season and wound up making eight starts there … Also started three times at third base and twice as the designated hitter … Compiled a .355 on-base percentage over his final 14 games … Started all three games of the series against Butler at second base and reached base safely in all three contests … Went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the series opener and was 1-for-3 with a walk in the second game of the series … Doubled and drove in a run at La Salle … Notched his first collegiate hit against Sacred Heart, starting at third base and going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run in the game … Singled, doubled and scored a run in the season finale at Xavier.
 
St. Joseph’s Prep: Earned four varsity letters in baseball and two in basketball … Played on the left side of the infield in baseball … Was a guard and a forward on the basketball team … Three-time All-Catholic League baseball selection, earning that distinction as a freshman, a sophomore and a senior … Also named All-City and All-Southeastern Pennsylvania as a senior … As a sophomore was selected for the Bucks County Golden Team … Three-time participant in the local Carpenter Cup from his sophomore through senior seasons … Was on the varsity basketball team as a sophomore and helped his team win a state title … Achieved First Honors status academically as a senior.
 
Personal: Born 3/11/99 in Bristol, Pa. … Youngest of three children of Jeff and Denise Manto … Has two older sisters, Gabrielle and Andreana … Father played college baseball at Temple and went on to a successful professional career which included playing in the major leagues for eight teams over parts of nine seasons … Also played one season professionally in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants … Sister, Andreana, played club tennis at Temple … Hobbies include playing basketball and guitar … Knew of Villanova’s excellent academic reputation when considering the school, and chose to enroll after the baseball recruiting process and as a result of enjoying the time he spent on campus … Enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ... Communication major.