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Rehab Start of Toronto Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah
During his first minor league rehab start, Alek Manoah, right-hander for the Toronto Blue Jays, expressed satisfaction despite a discouraging performance, as his right shoulder displayed no signs of injury.
Manoah’s outing against Lakeland in a Florida State League game saw him walk the first four batters and ultimately concede seven runs over 1 2/3 innings while playing for Single A Dunedin. This appearance marked a significant milestone as the 26-year-old had experienced discomfort in his right shoulder subsequent to a spring training start on February 27. In an effort to recuperate, Manoah engaged in simulated games on March 27 and April 2.
Reflecting on his performance, Manoah emphasized, “I don’t care about the numbers. I felt really good. Everything was coming out really good. I feel like we were around the zone for the most part. But I think the biggest thing is the body felt good, velo was good, (pitches had) movement. So, just got to continue to feel good and continue to attack.”
Rehabilitation Progress
The pitching statistics from Manoah’s rehab start included five hits, four walks, and four strikeouts, with 32 balls being thrown out of his total of 56 pitches. Manoah’s journey back to form has been intriguing; after earning an impressive record of 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 2023 and securing a spot in the AL All-Star team, his 2023 season proved challenging, enduring a 3-9 record with a 5.87 ERA. Consequently, the right-hander was assigned to the rookie-level Florida Complex League for mechanical adjustments on June 6.
Despite facing setbacks, particularly a taxing FCL game where he conceded 11 runs over 2 2/3 innings, Manoah rejoined the Blue Jays on July 7 but had to end his season prematurely following an August 10 start. Resilient in his perspective, Manoah noted, “I think everybody kind of goes through ups and downs in this game. Nobody is really going to go out there and be perfect.”
Other Player Updates
Regarding his future starts, Manoah expressed uncertainty while closer Jordan Romano, recovering from right elbow inflammation, demonstrated progress by pitching 21 pitches in a simulated game and projecting a minor league appearance in the upcoming week. With Romano securing 36 saves in each of the previous two seasons, his return will be a notable boost for the Blue Jays.
This rehabilitation session also witnessed contributions from Danny Jansen, currently on the IL due to a broken bone in his right wrist, who caught Romano during the simulation. Moreover, reliever Erik Swanson, sidelined by right shoulder inflammation, showcased his prowess by striking out two batters in a perfect inning, throwing 10 of 11 pitches for strikes. In the previous season, Swanson boasted a record of 4-2 with four saves and a 2.97 ERA in 69 games.
Additionally, Dunedin shortstop Arjun Nimmala, the 20th overall draft pick in 2023, displayed his talents by hitting a home run in the first inning. Noteworthy is Nimmala’s historical significance as the first, first-generation Indian-American drafted in the first round in any of the four major U.S. sports. Remarkably, the home run ball hit by Nimmala was retrieved from the Lakeland bullpen.
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