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Alek Manoah

Alek Isaac Manoah (born January 9, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Blue Jays selected Manoah with the 11th overall pick of the 2019 MLB draft out of West Virginia University, and he made his MLB debut on May 27, 2021. Manoah was an All-Star in 2022.

Alek Manoah
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 6
Pitcher
Born: (1998-01-09) January 9, 1998 (age 26)
Homestead, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 27, 2021, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through May 24, 2024)
Win–loss record29–20
Earned run average3.36
Strikeouts409
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Amateur career

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Manoah attended South Dade High School in Homestead, Florida.[1] As a junior, he hit .492 with five home runs and 32 RBIs.[2] That summer, he played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field.[3] During his senior year, he signed to play college baseball at West Virginia University.[4] Manoah was not drafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft out of high school and thus enrolled at West Virginia.

In 2017, as a freshman at West Virginia, Manoah appeared in 19 games (ten starts), pitching to a 1–1 record with a 3.07 ERA,[5] earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.[6] As a sophomore in 2018, Manoah went 3–5 with a 4.00 ERA in 23 games (eight starts).[7][8] He particularly struggled with command, posting a 1.50 WHIP.[9] That summer, he pitched in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Anglers where he went 4–3 with a 3.57 ERA in nine starts.[10][11] Prior to the 2019 season, Manoah was named a preseason All-American by Baseball America.[12] During the season, Manoah was named to the Golden Spikes Award watchlist along with unanimously being named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.[13][14] At the time he received the award, he was 8–3 with a 1.91 ERA in 14 starts, striking out 125 batters in 94 innings.[15] He finished his junior year with a 9–4 record and a 2.08 ERA over 16 starts, compiling 144 strikeouts over 108+1⁄3 innings.[16]

Professional career

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Minor leagues

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Manoah was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[17] He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 11th overall pick.[18] He signed for $4.55 million and made his professional debut with the Vancouver Canadians of the Low–A Northwest League on July 27.[19][20] Over six starts, Manoah compiled a 2.65 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 17 innings.[21] Manoah did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]

To begin the 2021 season, Manoah was assigned to the Buffalo Bisons of the Triple-A East.[23] In his first start of the season, he struck out 12 batters over six scoreless innings.[24] Over three starts with Buffalo, Manoah went 3–0 with a 0.50 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 18 innings.[25]

Major leagues

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On May 27, 2021, Manoah was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time, and started against the New York Yankees that day, while picking up the win in a 2–0 final.[26] He recorded his first MLB strikeout in his debut against Yankees infielder Rougned Odor. Overall, Manoah totalled seven strikeouts while allowing two walks, no runs, and two hits over six innings.[27] On June 22, he was suspended five games for an incident stemming from a June 19 game in which he was ejected for intentionally hitting Baltimore Orioles third baseman Maikel Franco with a pitch.[28] On July 2, Manoah recorded seven consecutive strikeouts against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field, setting a Blue Jays franchise record.[29] Manoah finished his rookie season with the Blue Jays having started twenty games in which he went 9–2 with a 3.22 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 111+2⁄3 innings.[30]

Manoah was selected to represent the Blue Jays alongside teammates Santiago Espinal, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[31] Manoah pitched one scoreless inning and struck out all three batters he faced.[32] In 2022, Manoah went 16–7 with a 2.24 ERA in 1962⁄3 innings while striking out 180 batters. He started the first game of the Wild Card Series against the Seattle Mariners, pitching 52⁄3 innings, giving up four hits and four earned runs with four strikeouts, as the Blue Jays were swept by the Mariners in the series. Manoah also finished third in Cy Young Award voting, behind Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox and winner Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros.[33]

Coming off his first two major league seasons, expectations were high for Manoah, who was selected as Toronto's opening day starter.[34] Instead, the season turned into a disaster. Manoah struggled early, posting a 6.36 ERA through his first 13 starts of the campaign. In one start against the Houston Astros on June 5, 2023, Manoah allowed six runs in the first inning and was relieved of duties after recording only one out.[35][36] The following day, Manoah was demoted to the Florida Complex League.[37][38] His first start in the Florida Complex League on June 27 went poorly, as he allowed 11 earned runs on 10 hits in 2 2⁄3 innings of work.[39]

On July 7, after a month in the minors, Manoah was recalled to the major league club. In his first start against the Detroit Tigers, he earned the win while recording 8 strikeouts, only giving up 1 earned run in 6 innings. He struggled in subsequent starts, walking several batters in his final five starts before being optioned to Triple–A Buffalo after an August 10 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Manoah, however, reacted negatively to his demotion and did not report to the Bisons, and subsequently informed the Blue Jays that he would not pitch again during the 2023 season. American baseball journalist Buster Olney later opined, "Every year there are literally dozens of players who get sent down and don't agree with the decision, but they get on the bus, get on the plane, they go down, they report to go to work to prove the team wrong. This is a bad career move for Manoah."[40]

Following the demotion to Buffalo, Manoah met with specialists who examined his knee, back and right quadricep, with no structural damage being found.[41] While media speculated on whether Manoah's struggles were mental or physical in origin, Blue Jays' Manager John Schneider simply described the situation as "frustrating", adding that Manoah "feels like he's not ready to compete so we're going to respect that and kind of move on from it."[42] Manoah was officially shut down in September, having not thrown a pitch since his August 10th demotion.[43] In Manoah's absence, the Blue Jays secured a playoff spot, playing the Minnesota Twins in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series.[44] At season's end, GM Ross Atkins reiterated that no structural damage had been found, but that Manoah had recently received "an injection" to relieve discomfort in his right shoulder, and that team doctors had no input in that decision. He said that Manoah "felt as though that was the next best step", and also noted that Manoah was not seeking a trade and was unlikely to work through his issues in winter ball.[45]

On May 5, 2024, Manoah returned to the majors to pitch against the Washington Nationals. He pitched for 4 innings and surrendered 6 earned runs in an 11–8 loss.[46][47] On May 19, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Manoah recorded his 400th career strikeout. He became the second-fastest Blue Jay pitcher to accomplish this feat. The Blue Jays would go on to win the game 5–2.[48] On June 7, it was announced that Manoah would undergo season-ending surgery to repair the UCL of his throwing elbow.[49]

Pitching style

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Manoah features an upper 90s mph fourseam fastball, a mid 90s sinker, a changeup, and a slider that he learned from watching Dellin Betances on Rob Friedman's Twitter account, PitchingNinja.[50][51]

Personal life

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Manoah's older brother, Erik, was drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but was released in 2019.[52] All four of Manoah's grandparents are Cuban and Manoah can speak Spanish.[53]

References

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  1. ^ "South Dade has the talent to win another state baseball title". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "WVU Announces Baseball Signing Class". 247sports.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  3. ^ "South Dade's Alek Manoah Pitches As An All-American". South Dade News Leader. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Four South Dade Buccaneer Baseball Players Sign Letters of Intent". USA Today. November 12, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Alek Manoah hopes to have breakout season". The 3rd Man In. February 14, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "2017 All-Big 12 Baseball Team and Awards Announced". Big 12 Sports. May 23, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "Manoah gets the nod to start on opening day". The Morgantown News. February 14, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Former South Dade star pitcher has a unique opportunity during the 2019 MLB Draft". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "Alek Manaoh Hopes To Lead Strong WVU Pitching Staff". BlueGoldNews.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "WVU baseball: All-American Alek Manoah gets 'serious,' ready to lead Mountaineer pitching staff". Charleston Gazette-Mail. February 12, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "#25 Alek Manoah". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Roundup: WVU's Alek Manoah named preseason All-American". Charleston Gazette-Mail. January 28, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Roundup: WVU baseball downs Maryland 3-1". Charleston Gazette-Mail. April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "WVU baseball: Alek Manoah named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year; Mazey named Coach of the Year". Charleston Gazette-Mail. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  15. ^ "Mazey, Manoah garner Big 12 honors". The Morgantown News. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  16. ^ Staff, BarDown (June 3, 2019). "Alek Manoah shares special moment with his family after getting drafted by the Blue Jays - Article". BARDOWN. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  18. ^ "Blue Jays select Alek Manoah 11th overall". MLB.com. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  19. ^ Ewen, Steve (July 29, 2019). "Steve Ewen: Blue Jays first rounder Alek Manoah joins C's". TheProvince.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  20. ^ "Blue Jays sign first-round pick Alek Manoah and four other draftees". Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  21. ^ "From two-way threat to top prospect, debuting Manoah always dazzled". EerSports.
  22. ^ "How top Blue Jays prospect Alek Manoah made sure 2020 wasn't a lost year". Sportsnet.ca.
  23. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A Buffalo Bisons set Preliminary Roster". Boxscore World Sportswire. May 3, 2021.
  24. ^ "Magnificent: Manoah fans 12 to win Bisons debut". MiLB.com.
  25. ^ "What to expect from Alek Manoah". MLB.com.
  26. ^ "Blue Jays officially call up Alek Manoah ahead of MLB debut". Sportsnet. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  27. ^ "Manoah's debut a family affair: 'All for them'". MLB.com. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "MLB Suspends Blue Jays Alek Manoah Five Games For Hitting Maikel Franco With Pitch". MLB Trade Rumors. June 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "Alek Manoah dominates Rays in return". MLB.com. July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  30. ^ "Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Dominates O's for ninth win". October 3, 2021.
  31. ^ "Manoah, Springer join Kirk, Vlad as All-Stars". MLB.com.
  32. ^ "Alek Manoah dazzles in All-Star Game debut". July 20, 2022.
  33. ^ Matheson, Keegan (November 16, 2022). "Manoah finishes third in AL Cy Young race". MLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  34. ^ "Blue Jays' Alek Manoah receives right-arm injections, season officially ends".
  35. ^ Strong, Gregory (June 5, 2023). "Jays starter Manoah lasts just one-third of an inning in 11-4 blowout loss to Astros". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  36. ^ Matheson, Keegan (June 5, 2023). "Manoah can't make it out of 1st in latest start". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  37. ^ Matheson, Keegan (June 6, 2023). "Blue Jays option Manoah to Rookie-level Complex League". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  38. ^ "Blue Jays demote Alek Manoah to rookie-level Florida Complex League". ESPN.com. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  39. ^ "Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah gives up 11 runs in first rookie ball appearance since demotion". cbssports.com. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  40. ^ "Olney on Manoah being shut down: 'This is a bad career move". tsn.ca. TSN. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  41. ^ "Blue Jays' Alek Manoah unlikely to pitch again in 2023, according to report". ESPN. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  42. ^ Longley, Rob (September 13, 2023). "Displaced ace not ready to compete? More on the shutdown of Blue Jays' Alek Manoah". Sun Media. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  43. ^ "Blue Jays' Alek Manoah receives right-arm injections, season officially ends".
  44. ^ "Playoff-bound Blue Jays persevered after a wobbly September, next up is the Twins". cp24.com. The Canadian Press. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  45. ^ "Blue Jays P Manoah had injection in shoulder, no structural damage, GM says". tsn.ca. The Canadian Press . October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  46. ^ Field Level Media (May 5, 2024). "Alek Manoah back in majors as Jays take on Nationals". Reuters. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  47. ^ "Alek Manoah - Toronto Blue Jays Starting Pitcher". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  48. ^ "Alek Manoah Tosses Gem, Earns First MLB Win of 2024 Season". Yardbarker. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  49. ^ Davidi, Shi (June 7, 2024). "Blue Jays' Alek Manoah to undergo UCL surgery, will miss remainder of season". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  50. ^ Biertempfel, Rob. "The Pirates have West Virginia's Alek Manoah on their draft..." The Athletic. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  51. ^ "Alek Manoah, West Virginia Ace, Boosts His MLB Draft, NCAA Tournament Stock". www.baseballamerica.com. April 25, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  52. ^ "South Dade Ace Signs With The Mets". South Dade News Leader. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  53. ^ Adler, David (June 3, 2019). "10 things to know about Alek Manoah". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 9, 2023.

Further reading

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