Blue Jays’ Manoah named AL Cy Young finalist
Posted November 7, 2022 7:20 pm.
Last Updated November 7, 2022 7:41 pm.
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah was recognized for his terrific performance on the mound this season after being named a finalist for American League Cy Young.
Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease, and Houston Astros righty Justin Verlander, were the other two finalists. A winner will be announced on Nov. 14.
Manoah, 24, emerged as the Blue Jays’ best starter this season, compiling a 16-7 record, 180 strikeouts and a 2.24 ERA across 31 starts. The sophomore starter did finish behind Cease and Verlander in a few statistical categories, including ERA, strikeouts, and hits per nine innings, but was ahead in innings pitched.
A BIG year for Big Puma ???? @Alek_Manoah6 is a Cy Young Award Finalist! pic.twitter.com/7VkpEc4qc9
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 8, 2022
Manoah, nicknamed “The Big Puma,” was the Blue Jays’ most valuable player according to Wins Above Replacement (WAR), finishing with a team-high 5.9 bWAR this year, according to Baseball Reference’s model.
The 24-year-old was an AL All-Star for the first time in his young career. He also made his post-season debut in Game 1 of the AL Wild-Card series against the Seattle Mariners, taking the loss.
The sophomore starter also made headlines off the field.
In late September, Manoah was honoured with a sportsmanship award for defending teammate Alejandro Kirk after the catcher was criticized online for his weight. Manoah received a $100,000 sponsorship prize and immediately donated it to KidSport, a Canadian nonprofit that gives children the opportunity to participate in organized sports.
That same month, Manoah reacted angrily when Montreal radio host Matthew Ross tweeted that Kirk was “embarrassing the sport” because of his weight and figure. Kirk, a first-time All-Star, is 5-foot-8 and 245 pounds, according to his bio on MLB.com.
Manoah was drafted in the first round (11th overall) by the Blue Jays in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Former Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray won the AL Cy Young as a member of the club last season before joining the Mariners as a free agent.
With files from The Canadian Press
