Alek Manoah has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. When Alek Manoah left Wednesday’s series finale in Chicago in the second inning, everyone knew something was not right. Manoah underwent an MRI once the Blue Jays touched down in Toronto and was diagnosed with a right UCL sprain.
The 26-year-old will seek a second opinion on his injured elbow and will likely miss an “extended period of time.” Manoah said he first experienced discomfort in the elbow after his previous outing against the Detroit Tigers.
Per sources, Alek Manoah is going for a second opinion on his right elbow.
I’m told the expectation at this point is that he’s likely going to miss an extended period of time.#BlueJays— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) May 31, 2024
“Felt it after my start in Detroit and tried to do everything I can with the training staff through the week,” Manoah said after the game in Chicago. “Threw a bullpen a couple days ago, kind of felt fine. I felt like I was able to go out there and compete and give the team a chance, and just wasn’t able to.”
Manager John Schneider said Manoah has been scheduled for an in-person evaluation with renowned surgeon Dr. Keith Meister next Thursday. Dr. Keith Meister is the head team physician for the Texas Rangers and one of baseball’s leading orthopedic surgeons.
Blue Jays Right-Hander Alek Manoah To Miss “Extended Period” With Elbow Injury
The injury derails what had been a promising bounce-back season for the former Blue Jays ace. After finishing third in Cy Young voting and starting the All-Star Game in 2022, Manoah had a terrible 2023 season. His ERA jumped to 5.87. His struggles were so bad that Toronto sent Manoah to rookie ball to try to get back on track. He began this season on a minor league rehab assignment after experiencing shoulder inflammation in Spring Training.
Manoah made his season debut on May 5th, giving up seven runs (six earned) over four innings of work. He has pitched to a 3.70 ERA in five starts with 26 strikeouts and eight walks overall.
With Manoah sidelined for at least the middle third of the season, Toronto acquired minor league reliever Ryan Burr from the Phillies. Right-hander Bowden Francis, who opened the season in the rotation when Manoah was on the shelf, is on a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. Francis has been out for the last month with forearm tendinitis.
Until all the information is gathered, the Blue Jays cannot conclusively gauge the severity of Alek Manoah’s injury or a potential return timeline.
Main Photo Credits: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
