TORONTO – Just last week, as crisis grew in the Toronto Blue Jays’ starting rotation, debate raged in the organization over whether Alek Manoah was ready for the big-leagues. The front office puts a lot of thought into optimizing transitions for its top prospects and the 23-year-old right-hander had only 35 professional innings over nine minor-league starts under his belt.
Too soon? Three weeks at triple-A enough? Would his development be truncated?
Need ultimately made the decision and Thursday afternoon, pitch-by-pitch over six shutout innings, Manoah methodically shut down each and every doubt about his arrival. And in leading the Blue Jays to a 2-0 victory in the first half of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, he also provided a significant boost to a team desperately seeking some rotation stability.
Impressive as the results were, what really stood out is the way Manoah dismantled the Yankees. He routinely beat elite hitters in the strike zone with his fastball. He was unpredictable – primarily using a four-seamer that sat 95.1 m.p.h. and a slider that generated two whiffs, six called strikes and four foul balls – but also his sinker and a changeup that led to three misses.
And regardless of what he was feeling inside, he carried himself with a steady confidence and unflappable composure amid what can be intimidating surroundings.
Rather than a question, he not only looked like answer, but a very, very obvious one.
Back-to-back homers from Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette in the third inning off Domingo German backed Manoah, while Jordan Romano locked things down in the seventh. Manager Charlie Montoyo could not have asked for more ahead of the nightcap.
