Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Alek Manoah Had a Terrible Start in the Minor Leagues on Tuesday

As Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah works his way back to the major leagues, he encountered a major roadblock on Tuesday, getting roughed up by minor leaguers in the Florida Complex League.
Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Alek Manoah Had a Terrible Start in the Minor Leagues on Tuesday
Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Alek Manoah Had a Terrible Start in the Minor Leagues on Tuesday /
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In a story that's turning downright sad, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah was roughed up on Tuesday by minor leaguers in the Florida Complex League.

Manoah, who went 16-7 in 2022 with a 2.24 ERA, made the All-Star team and finished third in the Cy Young voting, was sent down to the Florida Complex League to work on things after going 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA in 13 starts this year.

In his first start down on the farm, the results were horrific.

The following update comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:

Manoah was lit up for 11 earned runs over just 2.2 innings Tuesday in the Florida Complex League.

ANALYSIS
Making his first live appearance since being optioned to the minors in early June, Manoah surrendered 10 hits -- including two homers and two doubles -- in a brutal outing versus the FCL affiliate of the Yankees. He also issued two walks, ultimately retiring only eight of the 20 batters he faced. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters last week that the 25-year-old right-hander was trending well in recent side sessions, but he clearly has a lot more work to do on the farm before he can be considered a reliable option again for Toronto's starting rotation.

That's honestly just sad to read. Manoah was one of the best young pitchers in baseball in 2021 and 2022, and it's just fallen completely off the tracks.

Here's to hoping he figures things out and can get right again this season. The Blue Jays, who are in the battle for a playoff spot again this year, could certainly use him.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.