It was a mixed bag for Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in his first start of spring training.
In Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, Manoa struck out three batters and struck out just 17 of 38 pitches in 1 2/3 innings of four-run ball. Good shot. But his velocity has also improved, with his fastball hitting the mid-90s.
“You want to start now when everything feels like it’s not the best, rather than start when it matters. Some of these cheap experiences,” Manoa told reporters in Lakeland, Florida. “I just continue to attack every day, continue to separate each day from myself and attack what I have to attack that day.”
Manoah is a breakthrough star The 2022 Toronto Raptors went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 31 starts. He was named to the American League All-Star team and finished third in American League Cypress Award voting.
But he struggled last year, going 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA in 19 starts. He was optioned to the minors twice.
Manoa was pleased with his speed against the Tigers.
“I don’t have to think about speed, just feel the natural flow and then get pretty good speed,” he said. “For me, it’s a really good checkpoint. … It’s a really good box to check early on. But at the same time, we’re not chasing velo, just easier velo, so naturally today Being in the mid-90s is a good thing.”
Casey Mize pitched 1 2/3 innings for Detroit as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and subsequent back surgery. The right-hander was charged with two runs and a hit.
Mize, 26, was selected by the Tigers with the first overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft. He has not participated in a major league regular season game since April 14, 2022.
feel good
Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks is feeling good. He missed the start of last season as part of his rehab from a shoulder injury, which is a welcome change.
“It was so fun to be out there again,” he said.
Hendricks pitched two innings in Tuesday’s Cactus League game against Cincinnati. The right-hander gave up one hit – a triple to Will Benson, who scored on Nick Martini’s sacrifice fly. He walked one, struck out one and hit a batter.
Hendricks, 34, won a World Series with the Cubs in 2016 and went 6-8 with a 3.74 ERA in 24 starts last season.
“It feels great,” Hendricks said. “Just to be in my routine, in my five days. It’s something I love to do. Last year it just stinked sitting around and it stinked. I just want to be a part of it.”
Work hard to return
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler faces a batter during Tuesday’s throwing drill. The right-hander will return from his second Tommy John surgery in August 2022.
Buehler, a two-time All-Star who turns 30 in July, is 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 115 career games, including 106 starts.
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AP Baseball Writer David Brandt and AP freelance writer Jack Thompson contributed to this report.
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