Jun 5, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (6) reacts before getting pulled from the game during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Houston Astros at Toronto Blue Jays
(Tampa, Florida) — RHP Alek Manoah made his first start for the Florida Complex League Blue Jays on Tuesday, three weeks after being demoted by the Toronto Blue Jays. In a sentence summarizing his performance: he was awful.
He gave up 11 earned runs in 2.2 innings against the New York Yankees’ FCL affiliate. Manoah allowed smore base runners on the afternoon (12) than the number of batters he retired (8) and left the game with a 37.13 ERA.
Manoah has never allowed more than seven earned runs in an MLB start.
The hitters the right hander faced Tuesday ranged from 17-20 years old, with most falling in that 18-19 range.
Manoah allowed two home runs in the start and the two hitters who took him deep — Roderick Arias and Keiner Delgado — entered Tuesday with two home runs in 117 at-bats on the season.
There’s no silver lining in this performance, but at least it will soon be in the past.
The Blue Jays sent the struggling 25-year-old down on June 6 after the AL Cy Young finalist couldn’t get out of the first inning against the Houston Astros.
Since being assigned to Florida, Manoah has been working with the Blue Jays’ pitching coaches while partaking in simulated games. Tuesday’s outing was his first appearance against another opponent since his start in Houston.
Baseball truly is a humbling game.
