Blue Jays Notebook: On Manoah, Ryu, Sliders, and Injuries

Blue Jays news and notes on Alek Manoah's return. Hyun Jin Ryu's recovery, how Toronto's being pitched, and more.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

If you're locked in on Blue Jays baseball, your attention lately has drifted back and forth between Toronto and Dunedin, Florida.

While the Major League team attempts to claw back into a playoff spot, a brigade of pitching reinforcements work back at the team's player development complex in Dunedin.

Here are the latest notes on both the MLB club and the Dunedin comeback trio:

Get Ready For The Slider

Athletics starter James Kaprielian threw 40 sliders on Friday. It was his most-used pitch, accounting for 42% of all deliveries, and the most he’s used the slider all season.

Kaprielian’s unique pitch selection on Friday fits a growing trend against Toronto, as the Blue Jays' right-handed hitters have seen more sliders (574) than any other team this month. They're hitting .220 against the pitch with an average exit velocity of 87.2 MPH (11th-worst).

The key for Toronto's bats, specifically Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has been selectivity with the slide piece. In Guerrero's eighth-inning at-bat against Kaprielian, the pitcher started him off with two sliders away. Both pitches were called strikes, though just off the plate. 

When he's struggling, Guerrero swings at those pitches, rolling easy grounders to the right side of the infield. But, on Friday, he took the slider strikes, waiting for a mistake he could actually drive. On the fourth pitch, it came, a 92 MPH fastball right down the gut.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took two sliders away, for strikes, before hitting his first home home run of the season on Friday

Manoah Nears Game Action

The Blue Jays sent Alek Manoah down to the club's Dunedin complex to get him away from the spotlight. He's been in the team's pitching lab, working on delivery mechanics and strike-throwing consistency from the shadows. But, as he begins to check boxes, Manoah's return will draft back into the public eye.

His last bullpen session came on Wednesday, where Manoah threw five innings (74 pitches), reaching 94 MPH with his fastball and finding the zone with 70% of pitches.

“Everything kind of video-wise and report-wise has been really trending in the right direction," manager John Schneider said.

The righty will throw another bullpen in Dunedin this weekend and could push into a minor-league game next week, if all goes well. His first game action will come in the Florida Complex League or Florida State League, depending on team schedules.

Green, Ryu On Track

Alongside Manoah, pitchers Chad Green and Hyun-Jin Ryu are working back to the big leagues at Toronto's Dunedin complex. The pair of hurlers are recovering from mid-2022 Tommy John surgeries.

Ryu threw a two-inning bullpen session on Saturday and is close to facing live hitters in games shortly, beginning a standard spring training innings buildup. Green is a “tick ahead” of Ryu, Schneider said. He’s faced live hitters in a bullpen environment and won’t need the same lengthy innings building as the starter.

Neither pitcher will factor into the Blue Jays’ plans ahead of the mid-July All-Star break, but could rejoin the club shortly after.

Cimber Down, Francis Up

The Jays placed reliever Adam Cimber on the Injured List Saturday with a right shoulder impingement. Cimber has battled shoulder soreness since spring training, and was placed on the IL earlier this season with a similar ailment.

Toronto recalled pitcher Bowden Francis in his place. In two stints with Toronto this season, Francis has a 3.68 ERA. In 7.1 innings he's struck out seven batters.