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Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah to open season on 60-day IL
Though he continues to work through the steps toward returning to the mound, Alek Manoah will begin the season on the injured list.
Though he continues to work through the steps toward returning to the mound, Alek Manoah will begin the season on the injured list.
The Toronto Blue Jays announced Monday that the righty has been placed on the 60-day IL as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, while left-hander Richard Lovelady was selected to the team’s 40-man roster.
Manoah underwent an internal brace procedure last June after suffering an elbow sprain one month earlier.
The 27-year-old threw his first mound session since the surgery last week, putting the 2022 All-Star around three months away from facing hitters in live batting practice sessions.
After finishing as a runner-up for the Cy Young Award in 2022, Manoah struggled through 2023 and moved between minor and major levels as he tried to find a groove.
Since that outstanding 2022, Manoah has thrown just 111.2 MLB innings with the Blue Jays, carrying a 5.40 ERA and walking 12.9 per cent of hitters. Although he looked more like the Manoah of old over a five-start cameo in 2024, his chance at a real breakthrough was cut short by the elbow surgery.
Lovelady, meanwhile, split time last season with the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays. In all, the 29-year-old career reliever pitched to a 4.46 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 34.1 innings.
The lefty has made six appearances for the Blue Jays in spring training with a 4.50 ERA with eight strikeouts over six innings.
