Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah Shelled For 11 Runs In Florida Complex League Debut

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah struggled in his return to game action Tuesday, allowing 11 earned runs in 2.2 innings against New York Yankees prospects in the Florida Complex League (FCL).

Manoah faced 20 batters and allowed 10 hits, including two home runs and two doubles. He also walked two batters and struck out three.

Alek Manoah’s first start in the Florida Complex League:

2.2 IP

11 ER

10 H

2 BB

3 K

2 HR pic.twitter.com/QuP0rb2OEa

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2023

The Blue Jays assigned Manoah to the low-level Complex League on June 6 after the Opening Day starter struggled over the season’s first two months. In 13 MLB starts this season, Manoah has a 6.36 ERA and an American League-worst 42 walks.

“Obviously not a *good* sign for Blue Jays, but also not the time to read too much into results,” Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith said. “Similar to spring, this is more about process than boxscores. Mechanically, Manoah trying to get back to where he was. Clearly, that will take more time instead of being [a] quick fix.”

Since being assigned to Florida, Manoah has been working with the Blue Jays’ pitching lab and coaches while pitching simulated games. Tuesday’s outing was his first against another opponent since he allowed six runs while only recording one out against the Houston Astros on June 5.

“The messaging to him has been very specific and very consistent,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said last week.

“He knows what it is from a delivery standpoint, that’s been articulated very clearly from Pete (Walker, Blue Jays pitching coach) to him and from him back to Pete, really. So it’s really just kind of seeing those things play out and come to life consistently. That’s why I think he’ll kind of have a good idea of it, just like we will. But everyone’s really on the same page. It’s pretty cut and dry.”