Report: Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah looking for a second opinion on his injured elbow, ‘certain to miss lengthy time’
Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Zach Laing | Last updated: 5/31/24.
Alek Manoah’s promising comeback has come to an abrupt end.
His highs and lows have been well documented over the past year, with his game plummeting in 2023 and his 2024 season beginning with a shoulder injury in Spring Training. He missed some time before returning to Triple-A.
Manoah returned to the big leagues in early May and appeared four times, compiling a 3.97 ERA and 5.55 FIP over 22 and two-thirds innings. He had allowed a.191 average to opposing batters while posting great 23.7 K% and 8.2 BB% numbers, but his fifth start of the year got him into trouble.
He only pitched one and two-thirds innings against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, striking out three batters. However, his final pitch of the night came when he fired a sinker down and in on Dominic Fletcher for a ball, and Manoah immediately pulled up, visibly uncomfortable.
Manoah underwent an MRI following the game, and TSN’s Scott Mitchell reported on Friday that Manoah is seeking a second opinion, with indications that he will miss a prolonged length of time.
Per sources, Alek Manoah is going for a second opinion on his right elbow.
I’m told the expectation at this point is that he’s likely going to miss an extended period of time.#BlueJays— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) May 31, 2024
Manoah is absolutely devastated by the news.
After the game against the White Sox, he told MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson that he had some discomfort in his previous start against the Tigers and had received therapy that made him feel secure about returning to the mound. But early in the game, Manoah told Matheson he had a “pinchy” feeling.
“I just mentally told myself, ‘Stop thinking about it,'” Manoah added. “It’s only a little achy. That’s OK. It largely worried me when I extended, so I believe that mentally telling myself not to think about it helped me not guard it and get more extension than I had on earlier pitches.
“I feel…it sucks,” Manoah said, pausing to collect his words, according to Matheson. “I have faith in God.” I’ve dealt with a lot of [things] over the last year to come back to this stage. “This game is tough.”
On Thursday, the Jays acquired veteran right-hander Ryan Burr from the Philadelphia Phillies in a minor-league trade, assigning him to Triple-A Buffalo. While the 30-year-old has not thrown in the major leagues since 2022, he has worked as a reliever in Triple-A, making 33 appearances and compiling a 2.70 ERA over the last two seasons.
The Blue Jays begin a three-game series Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Manoah was scheduled to start next Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles, and there is no obvious replacement in the rotation.
