Blue Jays Option Former Mountaineer Alek Manoah to Florida Complex League

After emerging as one of the best in the game following an elite level 2022 season, Alek Manoah now needs to prove himself all over again less than a year later.

The Blue Jays have optioned Manoah to the Florida Complex League.  This move comes with Manoah struggling immensely so far this season, posting a 1-6 record and a 6.36 ERA in 13 starts.

ROSTER MOVES:

🔹 RHP Chris Bassitt reinstated from Paternity List

🔹 INF Santiago Espinal reinstated from 10-day IL

🔹 RHP Bowden Francis selected to Major League Roster

🔹 RHP Jay Jackson and INF Ernie Clement optioned to Triple-A

🔹 RHP Alek Manoah optioned to Florida… pic.twitter.com/r4rtfqzboV

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 6, 2023

It’s widely been reported this was a decision Toronto was hoping to avoid, but is being done to see if the former West Virginia Mountaineer can figure things out.

Just last year, Manoah took his career to another level. He finished third in the American League Cy Young race. In 2022, the 25-year-old carried a 2.24 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and struck out 180 batters in 196.2 innings pitched. Manoah was named an All-Star and started Toronto’s Wild Card Round game.

About a month ago, Blue Jays manager John Schneider discussed Manoah‘s disappointing start to the season with WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti after a game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. At the time, Schneider down played and concern and voiced a continued belief in Manoah.