Blue Jays Manager Delivers Alek Manoah Message with MLB Return in Doubt
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Once a rising star among big-league starting pitchers, Toronto Blue Jays hurler Alek Manoah is facing a rocky road back to the majors.
Manoah was a third-place finisher in Cy Young Award voting in 2022. But in 2023, he fell off a cliff before being optioned to the minors. The 2024 season didn't go much better before he suffered an elbow injury. Tommy John surgery took him out of action completely last June.
Now, with his team suddenly in the thick of a pennant race, Manoah is nearing his return. It's just not clear if the Blue Jays need him in any capacity.
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 23: Alex Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from the dugout during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on June 23, 2024 in Toronto,...
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 23: Alex Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from the dugout during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on June 23, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by)On Tuesday, Manoah made a rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo, and it didn't go as planned. Scheduled to throw roughly 75 pitches, he instead tossed only 49 in a 1 2/3-inning, three-walk, three-run performance.
After the outing, which was Manoah's fourth appearance with four different minor league affiliates, manager John Schneider's patience appeared to be wearing thin with the 27-year-old trying to dust off the cobwebs.
"You want to see kind of the desired result," Schneider said, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. "And with him, he's always been a little scattered. It's tough to really tell until we talk to him, with what he was feeling. But you always want to see more strikes."
Schneider also said the plan is for Manoah to meet with coaches and trainers in Toronto on Thursday to determine next steps.
The Blue Jays held a 4 1/2-game lead on the Boston Red Sox in the American League East entering Thursday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs. Their rotation is already overcrowded, as Shane Bieber arrived at the trade deadline, and top prospect Trey Yesavage is threatening to put his name in the mix as well.
Where does that leave Manoah? Fighting for a spot in the bullpen? Optioned to Triple-A once more? It's tough to say at this juncture, but the righty hasn't put himself in an advantageous position.
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