Life came fast for Alek Monoah.
Last season, he dominated the All-Star Game, striking out three of the four batters he faced. He took advantage of that to finish third in AL Cy Young Award voting. On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that they have been sent to the Florida Complex League, the lowest level of minor league baseball in North America.
Monoah had a more than promising rookie season in 2021, going 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts. But hardly anyone could have seen what was coming in 2022.
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Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 2022 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 4-2. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
He became one of the best pitchers in baseball, with a 2.24 ERA, the fourth lowest in all of baseball. His 0.99 WHIP was also the 10th lowest mark.
However, what was once seen as simple depression has turned into something much more. His ERA this season is 6.36.
Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch in the first inning during the second game of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Center on September 13, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Manoah Option It comes less than 24 hours after he lasted just a third of an inning against the defending champion Houston Astros after giving up six earned runs on seven hits, including a grand slam to Corey Julks.
The 25-year-old leads the majors with 42 walks allowed in 13 starts. He walked just 51 in 31 starts last year.
Manoah has pitched in the sixth inning just once since April 22. Monday was Manoah’s fourth outing this season in which he has allowed at least five wins.
Manoah’s season was so good last year, he was drafted the Blue Jays’ Game 1 start in the postseason, and he wasn’t the least bit worried.
«I had a coach who used to say, ‘Pressure is something you put in your tires,'» Manoah said before the start of the AL Wild Card Series. «This is just baseball. It’s just a game, you just have to go out and have fun and put the pressure on your tires.»
Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays is taken out of the game by manager John Schneider against the Baltimore Orioles in the 6th inning during their MLB game at Rogers Center on May 20, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
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The Blue Jays are 33-28, putting them on an 87-win pace. However, as good as the AL East has been, they sit fourth in the division and 9.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.