Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah's comeback attempt hits major roadblock

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated May 31, 2024 5:42 PM ET

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah’s comeback bid hit a major stumbling block this week with a rather significant injury diagnosis.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Manoah is dealing with a UCL sprain. The team has yet to decide on the next steps, but Manoah will visit Dr. Keith Meister next week.

Alek Manoah has a sprain in his UCL ligament. Degree uncertain right now said manager John Schneider.

Manoah will visit specialist Dr. Keith Meister next Thursday.

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) May 31, 2024

While not guaranteed, UCL sprains are typically the precursor to serious surgery. For example, Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves was revealed to have a UCL injury before he ultimately underwent season-ending surgery.

Any significant injury would be a brutal blow to Manoah. He looked like a budding ace in 2022, but he posted a 5.87 ERA in 2023 and was ultimately demoted to the minors. There were concerns over his conditioning and attitude, but he seemed to be turning a corner in recent starts, with a 1.77 ERA over his last four starts. It’s a pretty big blow to the struggling Blue Jays as well, as they have struggled to show consistent signs of getting it together.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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