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Watch: Alek Manoah is "Doing What it Takes" to Get Big League Call

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo commented on top prospect Alek Manoah's strong start in AAA

Alek Manoah has the Blue Jays attention.

Toronto General Manager Ross Atkins was in attendance for Manoah's AAA start last night, and Charlie Montoyo said he was impressed with the former first round pick's starts this year.

“If a player wants to make the Major Leagues he needs to push the envelope,” Montoyo said.

Through two 2021 starts, Manoah has yet to allow a run, posting a .417 WHIP and striking out 17 in 12 innings of work. The club is still focused on Manoah's development, Montoyo said Thursday, and the West Virginia draft pick has to keep pitching and "doing what he's doing."

Like most top prospects last year Manoah lost a year of minor league games due to COVID-19, but the alternate site training "worked out well for a lot of guys," Montoyo said. Manoah pitched just six games in low-A Vancouver in 2019, and was promoted directly to AAA to start this season.

Andrew Vaughn of the White Sox, drafted eight picks before Manoah in the 2019 MLB Draft, broke camp with Chicago this year and other top pitching prospects like Logan Gilbert are beginning to crack the MLB ranks. 

Though an MLB call up does not seem imminent, Montoyo did say “hopefully sometime this year” we may see Manoah pitching games in the big leagues.

Further Reading:

Alek Manoah Dominates Triple-A Start with Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins in Attendance

Hatch, Kirk, Springer and Other Blue Jay Injury Updates

Chatwood Embracing and Thriving in Bullpen Role