Alek Manoah's next rehab outing to take place in Triple-A this weekend

Despite discouraging results up to this point, the Alek Manoah comeback train continues to move along.

News broke this week that Manoah is scheduled to make his second rehab start in Triple-A Buffalo this upcoming Saturday. The pitch count appears set at around 75, and there’s a chance he’ll get to throw to a familiar battery-mate in Danny Jansen, who’s also with the Bisons on a rehab assignment.

Manoah’s first rehab start, one that came down in Dunedin with the Low-A Blue Jays, was a bit of a statistical disaster. Going only an inning and two thirds, Manoah walked four, struck out two, allowed five hits, while giving up six earned runs across 58 pitches. MLB.com's Keegan Matheson reported that many of Manoah’s pitch deliveries did not look the same, seemingly indicating there still exist many mechanical inconsistencies in Manoah’s game. 

This is problematic for a pitcher looking to get back to what he does best, keeping the ball in the zone and inducing weak contact. 2022 saw Manoah sport a lowly 2.3 BB/9, a number that paired perfectly with solid strikeout numbers and the ability to eat innings. Manoah is still trying to recover this ability to stay in the zone after losing it next year, as that mark ballooned to a 6.1 last season.

Manoah stated that despite the numbers, he was happy with his outing. He stated that his body felt good and his velo was good, and that he felt his pitches were around the zone. While his final line may not agree with him, Manoah is clearly heading into Buffalo with a degree of confidence. 

Last years rehab assignment followed a similar path. Manoah had a less than impressive outing in the lower minors, followed by a start in Double-A New Hampshire. That line was more impressive, as he struck out 10 batters leading to a return the Blue Jays shortly after.

It remains to be seen whether or not Manoah will repeat history and dominate in his second rehab game. The Bisons are playing the Rochester Redwings this week, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Should Manoah bounce back in this outing, a return to the big leagues could be imminent. If not, Manoah’s future will reach new levels of uncertainty as he looks to return to the level of pitcher he was just two years ago.