After an immensely successful 2022 season, things continue to go downhill for Toronto Blue Jays’ ace Alek Manoah. Most recently, Manoah got demoted to the Jays’ rookie ball league earlier this month. And yesterday, he played his first game against the Florida Complex League Yankees. Just above the high school and collegiate level, the rookie ball league is the lowest level of minor league baseball, which is usually played by athletes starting their careers in baseball.

Notably, Manoah’s demotion had come after a terrible display of play in the big league this season. According to the numbers in the first game, the once-finalist of the Cy Young Award continues to play below his potential. Soon as the numbers were put up on the internet by Alek in his first game, the baseball world started to brutally bash him, bringing up every mistake he made on or off the field.

Alek Manoah took a turn for the worse

Manoah had played only one complete season throwing for the Jays, MLB’s 2022 season. This year, he played exceptionally well and earned himself a spot in the All-Star game. However, off the field, he continued to bad-mouth players while remaining aloof at the same time. Then, after posting a 6.36 ERA through 13 starts of the 2023 season, Alek got sent down to play amongst the kids. And from the looks of it, he did not do great.

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Talkin Yanks posted the numbers that Manoah put up in his first rookie ball. Against the “kid” Yankees, the Jays’ ace threw less than three innings and gave up eleven runs on ten hits. To top it all off, he also let two home runs slide past him while having just three strikeouts.

Although three strikeouts are good enough under three innings pitched, comparing this to the other numbers, Manoah faltered noticeably. 

The baseball world has turned against him

The last year, Manoah, in one of his interviews, was asked to name the worst cheater in MLB’s history. Without giving it much thought, he named the Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole. Needless to say, it was one of the things that turned the baseball world against him. Then again this year, he spoke on his comments about Cole and said that he does not regret saying anything about the Yankees’ ace.

And when Manoah recently played in the rookie ball against the Yankees, be it unintentionally, he promted the baseball world to comment on his outspoken nature.

Have a look at how the MLB world is reacting to Manoah’s numbers on the first day of MiLB:

Meanwhile, some of the baseball fans felt bad for Manoah.

Considering his play last year, Manoah is an essential part of the Blue Jays system. But once again, he has to show everyone if and why he deserves a spot in the big leagues.

By the way, do you think Alek will turn around and be back in MLB? If so, let us know in the comments below!

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