Former MLB All-Star Pitcher Got Absolutely Rocked In Rookie Ball
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 5: Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches to the Houston Astros in the first inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 5, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays took the drastic step of sending the struggling Alek Manoah down to the Florida Complex League, a minor-league rookie level typically reserved for teenage prospects.
His reclamation tour got off to a disastrous start.
Manoah, a 2022 All-Star, got destroyed by the New York Yankees' rookie squad for 10 hits, two walks, and 11 runs in 2.2 innings. He served up two home runs on Tuesday.
It's a baffling fall from grace for Manoah, who's one year removed from finishing third in the AL Cy Young Award voting with a 2.24 ERA in 31 starts.
Expected to headline Toronto's rotation again, the 25-year-old instead posted a 6.36 ERA before getting demoted. Manoah issued 42 walks, three wild pitches, and hit five batters in 58 innings, and the Blue Jays finally had enough when he coughed up six runs to the Houston Astros on June 5 while retiring just one batter.
Toronto sent Manoah all the way down to the Complex League to completely refigure his mechanics. It looks like there's still work to be done.
On Monday, Sportnet's Shi Davidi called Manoah's upcoming outing a "really important test" that "will determine the next steps for him." Based on the outcome, it will likely be a while before he's back in the majors.
