Classroom:Mancuso is one of the best students on the Bluejay team, as he maintains a 3.39 cumulative grade point average in exercise science/pre-med. He has been named to the dean’s list in each of the past four semesters, including last fall when he achieved a 3.80 GPA. Last baseball season, Mancuso was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. He is on pace to graduate in May 2008 and has ambitions for further schooling in order to become a dentist.
Character:Mancuso has been slowed by injuries throughout his playing career. He missed his senior season of high school with a lower back fracture, but rebounded to appear in 21 games as a freshman at Creighton. Last season he was again slowed by back and elbow trouble, but battled through to win 10 games and earn the MVC Pitcher of the Year award.
Competition:Mancuso had a breakout season as a junior in 2007, posting a 2.34 ERA and earning the MVC Pitcher of the Year honors. He became only the second junior in school history to win 10 games, finishing with a 10-3 record. He recorded seven scoreless outings and finished with a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Following the season, he was named a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and was a second-team All-Midwest Region pick by the ABCA. Mancuso enters the 2008 season as a third-team preseason All-American by both the NCBWA and Ping! Baseball. He is a member of the Brooks Wallace Watch List, an award given to the nation’s best player at the end of the season. Mancuso, who is a preseason all-MVC pick, will be Creighton’s Friday starter in 2008.