Blue Jays demote 2022 All-Star for second time this season

The 25-year-old's demotion comes after a four-inning outing against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday in which he allowed four runs (all earned) on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in a loss. The defeat dropped Manoah's 2023 record to 3-9.

The 2019 11th overall pick was first sent down to the Florida Complex League in early June. This came following a disastrous start to the season. Manoah began 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA and 1.89 WHIP with 11 home runs and a then-league-high 42 walks allowed (as well as five hit batsmen and three wild pitches) across 13 outings.

The final straw came after a clunker against the Houston Astros during which the righty surrendered six runs on seven hits (including a grand slam) while walking one and retiring just one batter.

Manoah has registered a 4.91 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 29 1/3 innings pitched since being recalled in early July.

The results have certainly been better lately for the 2022 All-Star but nowhere near what he was putting up in the first two years of his career. As Toronto (65-52) nurses just a 1.5-game lead over the Seattle Mariners (62-52) for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League, it can't afford for Manoah to continue to work out his issues in the big leagues.

It's been a stunning fall from grace this year for the youngster after he entered the campaign coming off a 2022 season in which he went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 196 2/3 innings pitched covering 31 starts. The performance resulted in Manoah earning third place in the AL Cy Young voting and high expectations as the ace of the staff.