Former Toronto Blue Jays Ace Steps on Mound For First Time Since Tommy John Surgery

Alex Manoah isn't expected to figure into the Jays plans until much later this summer, but he took a huge step in his recovery effort on Friday morning.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah (6) speaks to team mates in the dug out after the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre in 2024. | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

On Friday morning, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alex Manoah took a huge step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery: He threw a bullpen off an actual mound.

Keegan Matheson of MLB.com posted the video on social media. These mark Manoah's first pitches off a mound since last June.

Alek Manoah’s first pitches off a mound since June, 2024. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/qX9G0SGcSG

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 14, 2025

The 26-year-old Manoah made just five starts in 2024, going 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA. He struck out 26 batters in 24.1 innings, starting to flash some of the stuff that made him one of the better pitchers in baseball in 2022.

Manoah made the All-Star team in that 2022 season, going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA. He also finished third in the American League Cy Young voting, helping the Jays get to the playoffs.

However, the 2023 season was a horrific one for Manoah, who went just 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA. He was demoted to the minor leagues and finished the year on the injured list.

He was injured in spring training 2024 as well and began the year in Triple-A before getting called back up, and injured again.

Manoah is not expected to be an option at the big-league level until July or August and it's unclear how he'll fit in when he does return. The Blue Jays enter the season with a projected rotation of Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Bowden Francis, Max Scherzer and Jose Berrios.

Yariel Rodriguez is also an option to start.

Toronto went 74-88 last season, finishing last in the American League East. They open up the season against the Baltimore Orioles on March 27.

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