Former WVU and current Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah made his return to the majors against the Washington Nationals on Sunday and was unable to find his ‘stuff’.
Manoah bounced around the majors and minors last season after struggling mightily and began this season in the minors after dealing with right shoulder tightness. He was called up on Saturday and was scheduled to start Sunday.
Manoah pitched four innings, throwing 92 pitches, allowing six earned runs on six hits and four walks, he struck out six. He would walk in a run in the first inning, which went unearned but was then given a comfortable lead when the Jays put up five runs in the second frame, partially thanks to a grand slam by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
After retiring the side in order in the second, Manoah gave up a solo home run in the third and allowed five more runs to score in the bottom of the fourth, including a three-run home run. His day would be down after four as Toronto was then down 7-6.
Manoah was stellar in 2022, becoming an All-Star and finishing third in the AL Cy Young race. He started 31 games with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts across 196.2 innings. However, he hasn’t been the same since, but the Bluejays still have hope for their former first-round pick in 2019, as they refused to trade him after receiving calls of interest in the 6-foot-6 righty.
Manoah played for the Mountaineers from 2017-2019. On top of pitching he also played a bit of first base, picking up one hit in his collegiate career.
