In a candid interview with The Athletic, former Toronto Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah opened up about watching his old team's thrilling postseason run from the sidelines last fall. The Blue Jays narrowly missed upsetting the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, falling short of bringing the championship back to Canada for the first time since 1993.
Manoah's Claim to the Postseason Success
While many baseball fans enjoyed the games from home, Manoah expressed a unique sentiment. He believes he played a "very big piece" in that magical journey, despite not being on the roster during the playoffs. "I was a very big piece of that process, getting to that World Series run," Manoah told reporter Sam Blum. "I wasn't able to be there like I wanted to."
He added, "Those are all my friends. A lot of those guys I called my brothers. I rooted for them 100%. I wanted them to win it all." This perspective highlights his continued connection to the team and its players, even after his departure.
A Career of Highs and Lows
Manoah's career has been a rollercoaster since his standout 2022 season, where he finished third in American League Cy Young Award voting. However, 2023 brought significant struggles, including a demotion to the minors, followed by a disastrous 2024 marked by injury.
The Path to Release and Recovery
After just five starts in 2024, Manoah encountered injury troubles that led to Tommy John surgery in June. He never pitched for the Blue Jays again and was released in September before the playoffs began, despite making several starts with the team's triple-A affiliate in Buffalo. At the time, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins did not elaborate on the decision to cut ties with the former ace, who had started playoff games for the club in 2022.
Manoah was briefly claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves but never appeared for them before becoming a free agent. He later signed a one-year, fully guaranteed deal with the Los Angeles Angels worth $1.95 million US, offering him a fresh start.
Changing the Narrative and Looking Ahead
In the interview, Manoah also addressed the need to reshape the story around his career. "I feel like some narratives can be created on their own," he said, emphasizing that "at the end of the day, it's just baseball, right? I've been through a lot of tougher s*** in life besides baseball."
He maintained a philosophical outlook, noting, "Just keeping that perspective and understanding that, at the end of the day, struggling in baseball is a first-world problem. Trusting that every door that closes is closing for a reason. Every door that's opening is ready to blossom."
Spring Training Progress and Future Hopes
Reports indicate that Manoah has been performing well during spring training with the Angels, with his fastball velocity showing improvement from last year. Reflecting on his time away, he said, "I look up and it's been two years since I've been in a big-league game. It doesn't really hit me hard. I stay to the routine, I stay to the work every day."
He expressed confidence in his ability to return to stardom, adding, "I trust the injuries, and I trust some of the down stuff is only going to make my platform bigger. It's going to make my voice a lot bigger for people that go through a lot of tough stuff." This mindset underscores his resilience and determination as he aims to revive his MLB career with the Angels.
