Alek Manoah Reclamation Project Shows Early Promise

This blog post dives into Alek Manoah’s roller-coaster journey—from a breakout star with the Toronto Blue Jays to what’s now being called the “Alek Manoah Reclamation Project.” We’ll look at his rough 2023, the Tommy John surgery in 2024, a couple of quick stops with other clubs, and the first hints of a comeback he’s showing in spring with the Angels. There’s some real buzz about his velocity bump and a revamped slider approach.

Alek Manoah’s Career Arc: The Rise, the Fall, and the Reclamation Project

Honestly, Manoah’s story kind of reads like a baseball novel: a rocket rise, a hard crash, and now a careful rebuild as he tries to find that old magic. The next chapters? Still unfolding, but leadership and resilience seem to be the backbone here.

The Rise: Peak Performance in Toronto

Back in 2022, Alek Manoah looked every bit like a franchise ace. He went 25-9 with a 2.60 ERA and finished third in AL Cy Young voting.

His fastball sometimes touched the upper 90s, averaging about 93.9 mph. That heater, honestly, made him one of the most exciting young pitchers around.

• 25-9 record through 2022
• 2.60 ERA in 2022
• Third in AL Cy Young voting
• Average four-seam velocity near 93.9 mph

The Turn: Injury Toll and Tommy John

Things changed fast in 2023. His command and velocity dropped, and then came the shoulder and elbow issues.

By June 2024, he needed Tommy John surgery. That knocked him out for almost two full seasons, and he only managed 38 1/3 innings that year—never really getting a proper shot at a big-league return during that stretch.

After all that, Manoah moved on from Toronto. He landed briefly with the Braves on waivers, then signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December. That’s when this whole “Alek Manoah Reclamation Project” thing really kicked off.

The Comeback: The Reclamation Begins

In a recent spring game against the Diamondbacks, Manoah showed something different. He tossed two scoreless innings, threw 25 strikes out of 36 pitches, walked two, and his fastball sat at 93–94 mph—a pretty big jump from last season’s numbers.

He credits a full offseason after TJ rehab, plus some mechanical tweaks, long-toss, and a power program for the renewed velocity and steadiness. Regaining command of his slider—his best pitch in 2022—has been a big focus, along with working up a few new slider variations.

He’s not rushing into any wild changes with his grips or mechanics. Elbow stress is always lurking, and he’s got surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in his corner, so he’s taking it slow on anything that could risk another injury.

So far, the signs are good. Manoah’s even talking about an improved changeup thanks to all that rehab and long-toss work, though he knows patience is key as he rebuilds his full pitching arsenal.

The Personal Side: Grounded and Focused

Off the mound, Manoah just radiates optimism. He’s got this grounded vibe, especially when he talks about his 10-month-old son—he’s hoping the little guy will make it out to some games this season.

That kind of perspective really helps balance out the grind as Manoah works to regain his velocity and sharpen his slider. He’s pushing to get back into the rhythm of big-league competition, and honestly, it seems like that family focus keeps him steady.

What this could mean for Manoah’s future

The road back isn’t exactly smooth, but early spring results and a pretty structured rehab plan give Manoah something solid to work with. If he holds onto those velocity gains and rebuilds his confidence with the slider, there’s a real shot he becomes a late-career asset for the Angels.

He just needs to stay healthy and keep his mechanics clean. The next few months? They’ll show if he can turn spring flashes into real consistency in actual games.

 
Here is the source article for this story: The Alek Manoah Reclamation Project Is off to a Good Start