Alek Manoah, the former West Virginia pitcher, has made his return to the big leagues with the Los Angeles Angels. This marks his first appearance in the major leagues in two years. He made his return on Friday, pitching one scoreless inning of relief against the Toronto Blue Jays. He recorded two fly balls and one strikeout.
Early Career Success
Manoah quickly ascended through the Blue Jays’ system. His performance in Morgantown translated to the big leagues. In his debut against the New York Yankees, he pitched six scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits. Hitters managed a .192 batting average against him in his first season, which consisted of 20 starts. He finished the year with a 3.22 ERA.
In 2022, he was recognised as one of the league’s best pitchers. He finished third in the AL Cy Young voting, behind Justin Verlander and Dylan Cease. It appeared the Blue Jays had found their ace.
Battling Adversity
Injuries to his elbow, shoulder, and finger created challenges for Manoah. He struggled with command of his pitches. He would exit outings early due to high pitch counts. This stemmed from a lack of control and relying too heavily on strikeouts.
Future Role
There is a belief that Manoah can recapture his previous form, potentially in a different role. He could become a high-leverage reliever or even a closer. His swing-and-miss ability has been proven at the MLB level. Becoming one of the best three pitchers in the game again might be a stretch.
Manoah’s journey has been long and winding. He has returned to the big leagues with the Los Angeles Angels.