Manoah cruises through first MLB appearance in over 700 days

TORONTO -- It had been 709 days since Alek Manoah had pitched in the Major Leagues and the right-hander made the most of it with a strong showing in relief against his former club.

Manoah, who was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Angels on Wednesday, made his season debut, throwing a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout in a 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Manoah, an All-Star with Toronto in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, opened the season on the IL after his fingernail fell off following a Spring Training outing in mid-March. He returned after rehabbing at the club’s Spring Training complex in Arizona and throwing 4 1/3 innings in a rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on May 2.

“It was good, man,” Manoah said with a big smile. “Felt like a debut again. It’s been a long time so it was good to be out there, pumping some strikes.”

Manoah looked sharp and his velocity was better than expected, as his first pitch was a four-seamer that registered 94.6 mph after his fastball was mostly in the low 90s during Spring Training and in his rehab outing.

He was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos from Blue Jays fans, as he had a promising start to his career in Toronto before struggling with his control in 2023 and undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 17, 2024, just a few weeks after his last MLB appearance on May 29, 2024.

He pitched like an ace in 2022, posting a 2.24 ERA in 196 2/3 innings to finish third in the AL Cy Young balloting, but had a 5.87 ERA in 87 1/3 innings in 2023 and a 3.70 ERA in 24 1/3 frames in 2024. He didn’t pitch in the Majors last season, making 10 appearances in the Minors as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The Angels signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.95 million this offseason to compete for a rotation spot, but he was reinstated to pitch in long relief.

Manoah said he’s excited to pitch in his new role and he told general manager Perry Minasian and manager Kurt Suzuki that he’s willing to pitch in relief if that means he’s back in the big leagues and helping the team.

“I thought about it probably every day of that 700-day journey,” Manoah said of his return. “Just doing everything I can -- the rehab, trying to get my body right, my mind right, get everything right. I’m just happy to get the opportunity.”

Manoah made quick work of Blue Jays hitters, as he threw just 11 pitches with seven going for strikes. He got Daulton Varsho to pop up for the first out before striking out Ernie Clement looking with his revamped changeup. He then got Jesús Sánchez to pop up to end the inning and Manoah celebrated to himself as he left the mound.

“We have routines,” Manoah said of how he kept his composure. “We got resets, we got red lights, green lights, and just sticking to them. That’s how the moment doesn't get big. You just stay pitch to pitch. My job is to execute pitches whether it's been 700 days or seven days. Just execute pitches.”

Suzuki liked what he saw from Manoah, while veteran reliever Kirby Yates also made his season debut after starting the year on the IL with left knee inflammation. Yates pitched around a single and a balk to register a scoreless seventh inning. He and Manoah got the opportunity with lefty starter Reid Detmers lasting just 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and a career-high six walks.

“It was good to see both of those guys,” Suzuki said. “I know [Manoah] has been working hard and for him to go out there and go 1-2-3 was awesome. Yates threw some good offspeed stuff. And he got out of it with a runner on second base. It was nice to see.”