Alek Manoah's baseball journey has taken a sharp downturn. Less than a year after being a Cy Young Award finalist, Manoah finds himself in the Florida Complex League, working to rediscover his form. His recent performance, however, suggests he's still far from his previous heights.
Manoah's first FCL start since his demotion on June 6th was a rough one. He gave up 11 earned runs on 10 hits, including two home runs and two doubles, in just 2.2 innings of work. This comes after a challenging MLB season where the 25-year-old led the league in walks, a stark contrast to his control last year.
His struggles this season are evident in his inability to pitch deep into games. He only pitched into the sixth inning once since April 22nd, and his last MLB start saw him surrender six earned runs in a mere third of an inning. This marked his fourth game this season giving up five or more earned runs.
The contrast between this year and last is striking. In 2022, Manoah was so dominant that he started Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series for the Blue Jays. He approached the pressure with confidence, quoting a former coach who said, "Pressure is something that you put in your tires." This year, however, the pressure seems to be getting to him.
Manoah's struggles are likely a source of satisfaction for New York Yankees fans. During the offseason, Manoah accused Yankees ace Gerrit Cole of cheating by using sticky substances before the 2021 crackdown. Cole, meanwhile, is having a strong season with a 2.78 ERA and led the league in strikeouts last year.
The Blue Jays are currently 43-36, a respectable record in most divisions. However, in the competitive AL East, they sit in fourth place, 10 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. Manoah's return to form would be a significant boost for their playoff hopes.
