Manoah Making Up For Time Lost due to COVID-19

The start to Toronto Blue Jays prospect Alek Manoah's 2021 has been impressive.

His two dominant Triple-A starts are even more impressive when coupled with the fact that contracting COVID-19 last year forced him to miss key development time at Toronto's alternate site.

“Alek had COVID and wasn’t able to participate as much,” Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins told the media Sunday. “If he had had that triple-A, double-A, some major league hybrid experience on a consistent basis he would’ve benefited greatly.”

Manoah was one of the 60 players eligible to participate in Toronto's 2020 alternate site last year, but we learned today he didn't have the same development time as some of the Blue Jays' other top prospects. Though his missed time is being "factored in," Atkins said, it doesn't seem to be holding him back.

“He absolutely maximized his offseason and maximized Spring Training and is getting absolutely every ounce out of Triple-A baseball right now.”

Two starts into his 2021 Triple-A season, Manoah has yet to allow a run. He has pounded his fastball by minor leaguers and is striking out more than 12 per nine. Only nine runners have reached base on Manoah through 12 innings, and four of them were hit by pitches.

"The objective and subjective views of how effective he will be at the major league level are all really encouraging," Atkins said.

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