Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah ready to kick butt rather than other way around – Toronto Sun

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DUNEDIN, Fla. — From the new hairstyle to the trimmer, fitter look, Alek Manoah certainly seemed ready for his role as of one of the most interesting players at Blue Jays training camp.

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On opening day of spring training at the team’s player development complex on Thursday, all eyes were on the first bullpen session Manoah threw with the team since his second demotion from the team last season.

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Pitching coach Pete Walker was eying the action from immediately behind the big (but not as big) right hander. To his right was manager John Schneider and, not far away, general manager Ross Atkins.

It still looked like the same super-competitive Manoah, whose meteoric rise had him on a fast track to greatness. But, after the struggles of last season, it was with a dash of humility mixed in with the retooled physique.

“When you get your butt kicked, you just want to start a new year with a fresh slate,” Manoah said after his workout was done. “I’m super excited for the boys this year and super excited to get after it.” 

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Manoah said he used the off-season to focus on getting better physically and, as the accompanying photos show clearly, it has worked.

“Working out. Eating good. Some good conditioning and just trying to control the body in every aspect,” Manoah said of his efforts at returning to a prominent spot on the Jays rotation. “Mobility. Stretching. Stability. All that stuff so that once I get on the mound it’s a lot easier.”

From opening day starter to reclamation project, the movements of Manoah figure to fascinating ones for the Jays over the next six weeks. His demise from opening day starter to an afterthought were a big part of the 2023 narrative around the team and a good, fresh start is what all those around the team were hoping for this spring.

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“He’s obviously a big part of what we’re doing,” Schneider said in his opening spring training address with the media.

“Conversations have been really good with him. We met in Miami in December and we’ve been in touch through the off-season — him, myself and (pitching coach Pete Walker). He’s done some really great work and you’ll see that today.

“He’s really excited for this year and a bounce-back season would be awesome for us.”

A significant upgrade from the 2023 experience would be welcome for Manoah, who was throttled on opening day and never recovered. He was twice demoted and then shut down late in the season to regroup for this important return.

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“He knows he’s coming in competing for a spot,” Schneider said. “I think what he’s done (in the off-season) it speaks volumes for him and holds a lot of weight. So we’re just looking for him to find of get back to what he’s always been good at.”

We asked Schneider what specifically stood out as being different with the right hander and the manager believes his action is most notable.

“Just his delivery, for one,” Schneider said. “You look at that and he’s in a really good spot right now. I think his mental state of mind is right where it should be and we’ll just see how it goes. He’s been such a good pitcher in this league. It’s an exciting time for him. It’s exciting for us to kind of see what he looks like and the work that he did getting himself in shape and getting ready to pitch.

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“The way he attacked the off-season has been encouraging.”

Kevin Gausman, the righty who essentially replaced Manoah as staff ace last season, was looking forward to seeing that action live, but has been impressed with what he has seen on video. Gausman is of the belief that Manoah’s arm wasn’t right last season and that he never truly got on track.

“We’re all looking forward to him getting back to being him. And foremost being healthy,” Gausman said. “I think he didn’t get his arm in a good spot last year. That’s one of the things you notice in his videos. His arm is really moving well.

“In this game, you learn more from your struggles than from your successes. He’s going to take last season and use it was motivation. He’s such a fierce competitor that you don’t have to worry about that part.”

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Gausman said he has counselled Manoah in the past about the humbling side of the game, something he has lived on his own. Manoah’s rapid early success would have made last season even more difficult to digest.

“I’ve talked to him a lot about that,” Gausman said. “Even just getting sent down, that was a pretty foreign thing in his mind. When you’re young and hard so much early success early in your career, that’s hard to understand. I can’t relate to that.”

As much as optimism rules, how spring training plays out will go a long way to determining Manoah’s status and prospect for success. Schneider said he expects him to have a normal workload, but is hoping for a strong beginning.

“He’s such a competitor,” the manager said. “He’s going to come out like he does every year and try to make a statement whether that’s to prove other people wrong or mainly to prove himself right.

“He knows exactly what’s on the table.”

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