Once Promising Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Alek Manoah Gets Rocked in Rehab Start

Alek Manoah was named an All-Star in 2022, but he gave up seven runs in just 1.2 innings of work with the Toronto Blue Jays' Single-A affiliate on Sunday.

Mar 31, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah (6) throws from the bullpen. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Two years ago, Alek Manoah looked to be one of the most promising young pitchers in all of baseball.

The former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star may have just hit a new low on Sunday, though.

Manoah dealt with a shoulder injury for most of Spring Training, but he was able to pitch bullpen sessions and simulated games as the regular season approached. Although he was moved to the 15-day injured list on Opening Day, Manoah was still considered healthy enough to start a rehab assignment in the minor leagues shortly after.

The 26-year-old right-hander made his first start for Single-A Dunedin on Sunday, and he opened it by walking the first four batters he faced.

Manoah wound up tossing 1.2 innings in the game, giving up four walks, five hits, a hit-by-pitch, six earned runs and seven runs total while only striking out two batters. Only 26 of his 58 pitches were strikes, and he only retired five of the 16 batters who faced him.

Alek Manoah’s line in his rehab start with single-A Dunedin:

1 2/3 IP
5 H
6 ER
4 BB
2 K

What happened to this guy?😕 pic.twitter.com/vzWNM3KQM9

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) April 7, 2024

Many were quick to point out Manoah's inconsistent mechanics, as well as how defeated he looked on the mound.

The righty faced similar problems in 2023, when he struggled mightily to open the season. Manoah was eventually sent down to the minors in June to get back on track, but when he returned to the Blue Jays a month later, he remained inconsistent.

Manoah spent the rest of the season in the minors. Later in the year, he asked to receive injections in his shoulder, which led to him getting shut down.

After finishing eighth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, then third in AL Cy Young voting in 2022, Manoah had been reduced to a banged up minor leaguer in 2023. It appears as if he still has issues to work out in 2024, facing an arguably worsened situation.

Manoah was 25-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.012 WHIP through his first 51 MLB starts. In his next 19, he went 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA and 1.740 WHIP.

In his last three minor league appearances, Manoah is 0-1 with a 17.36 ERA and 2.893 WHIP.

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