Beleaguered Cy Young Finalist Absolutely SHELLED in Rookie Ball

It's a stunning fall from grace of the highest magnitude. Toronto Blue Jays 2022 Cy Young finalist Alex Manaoh was sent down to the Florida Complex League earlier this month after a disastrous start to the season that saw him go 1-7, with a 6.36 ERA and 1.90 WHIP.

Now in his first start in the rookie-ball league, one of the lowest levels in all of professional baseball, things have taken yet another turn for the worse.

Alek Manoah in his first rookie ball start today against the Florida Complex League Yankees:

2.2 IP, 11 ER, 10 H, 2 HR, 3 K, 2 BB pic.twitter.com/ZV3dBVd2n9
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 27, 2023

Manoah was absolutely demolished by 18- and 19-year rookies, getting trashed for 11 runs, 10 earned, and two homers in just 2.2 innings.

The team had been working on his delivery down at the complex over the last few weeks, and Jays brass were "liking what they saw" with Manoah's simulated game and throwing sessions over the past week. But it all came crashing down in an actual game situation today.

The 25-year-old was one of the top pitchers in all of baseball in 2022, going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for the Blue Jays, and was one of the stars on the big stage of the Mid-Summer Classic.

Obviously not a *good* sign for Blue Jays, but also not the time to read too too much into results. Similar to spring, this is more about process than boxscores. Mechanically, Manoah trying to get back to where he was. Clearly that will take more time instead of being quick fix https://t.co/TBtFUdqs5X
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) June 27, 2023

Taking the glass-half-full approach, Jays beat writer Ben Nicholson-Smith cautions not to "read too much into results" at this point, and that it's "more about process than boxscore" for Manoah right now as he tries to fix his mechanics.

Be it process, mechanics, boxscores, or any other way you look at it, the Jays will have to carry on without a true 5th starter for the foreseeable future.

Photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports