Alek Manoah is "Ready To Go"

The Blue Jays prospect reflected on his path to the MLB ahead of his debut

Mitch Bannon | May 25, 2021

Alek Manoah couldn't hide a smile during his first press conference since joining the Toronto Blue Jays MLB club.

Toronto's number two pitching prospect said he was taking everything in today — getting lost in Yankee stadium, meeting his new teammates, and calling friends and family — because tomorrow he has work to do.

"The team has confidence in me to throw me into the fire," Manoah said. "And I’m ready to go."

Manoah is set to make his MLB debut Wednesday, facing off against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Manoah has just 35 professional innings and will become the first starting pitcher from his draft class to appear in the big leagues. Thoughts of doubt can try to creep into his head, he said, but he just keeps them out.

After his second year at West Virginia, Manoah wasn't even a full time starter, with the fastball as his only legit pitch. But a summer at the Cape Cod league and studying grips on the internet helped him add a slider, refine his changeup, and grow into one of the top pitchers in college baseball.

“I had bigger expectations and dreams for myself,” he said.

Just under two years since his draft day, Manoah found out he was getting the call to the big leagues. He tried calling and Facetiming his mom several times before she picked up and he could tell her the news: "We're going." He spent the rest of the evening calling former coaches, family members, and people who have helped him get to this spot. All of their encouragement, telling him he 'would've made it here without them,' meant a lot, he said.

"It’s been fun to look back," Manoah said. "Because at one point I was just grabbing the ball and throwing it."

Manoah reflected on his journey, and how far he's come since he was an undrafted high schooler who didn't even pitch until his senior year. But, as a 23-year-old a day away from his big league debut, he knows there's more to come.

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