Alek Manoah Making Progress in Return from Injury: Blue Jays Pitcher Takes Part in Batting Practice Sessions

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah took another step toward returning to play on Friday.

He did not participate in his team’s preseason game against the Boston Red Sox, but the right-handed gunner took part in five batting practice sessions.

• Read also: Ohtani’s interest: proof that Toronto is popular

• Read also: Allegations of theft of millions of dollars: the interpreter of Shohei Ohtani fired

“I feel good,” said Manoah, whose comments were reported by Sportsnet. The ball came out of my hand very well. My mechanics were good. I threw several takes.”

The 26-year-old athlete is suffering from a shoulder injury. He was injured during his only start of the preparatory calendar, on February 27 against the Detroit Tigers. He had reached three players in less than two innings of work, in addition to giving up four runs on three hits. The Florida native said he felt “some pain and some inflammation.”

This is not how Manoah imagined his 2024 training camp, after having a very poor campaign last year. The 2022 Cy Young Award finalist was 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA in 19 starts. He was demoted to the minor leagues twice.

“I did everything I could to work very hard during the off-season to come to camp ready and have everything go well,” said Manoah, who did not hide the fact that he felt some frustration.

“When something goes wrong, you can play tough and try to get through it. It ends up biting you in the butt in the long run, he then added. I think the most important thing is to focus on what I need to do today, what I need to do tomorrow, whenever tomorrow comes. This allows me to be better between both ears and to keep both feet on the ground.”

Addison Barger shows off

In the preseason matchup against the Red Sox, Blue Jays prospect Addison Barger drove in two runs in a 5-1 win.

The Queen City club’s 2018 sixth-round pick powered Nathan Lukes and Josh Kasevich with hit doubles in the first and sixth innings, respectively.

However, it was Isiah Kiner-Falefa who was the first to act up. In the first period, he threw the ball 412 feet from the plate. His circuit produced two points, since Daniel Vogelbach was already occupying the trails.

On the mound, starter Mitch White (3-0) had an excellent outing. He only gave up one run, two hits and one walk in five and two-thirds innings of work. The right-hander also put six opponents in the mitt.

Separately, the Blue Jays have released Eduardo Escobar from his minor league contract. The outfielder had requested it from the organization.

2024-03-22 20:51:50
#Blue #Jays #Alek #Manoah #finds #arm