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Toronto Blue Jays fans and players have spent recent years affectionately calling All-Star pitcher Alek Manoah the “Big Puma.”
According to Blue Jays manager John Schneider, Manoah has a new nickname: “Papa Puma.”
Schneider told reporters ahead of Thursday’s game against the Boston Red Sox that Manoah is now a father. The 27-year-old and his wife, Marielena, welcomed a son in April.
Manoah remains away from the big-league club while returning from Tommy John surgery. According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, Schneider said the 2022 AL All-Star is throwing bullpens regularly in Dunedin, Fla.
Manoah is expected to rejoin the Blue Jays’ rotation during the second half.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek ManoahDan Hamilton-Imagn Images
It’s been a difficult few years for Manoah, who won 16 games with a 2.24 ERA and 6.0 bWAR en route to a third-place Cy Young finish in 2022. Things quickly went downhill, however, as the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Manoah went 4-11 with a 5.40 ERA over the last two seasons.
Manoah battled injuries and control issues, even refusing to pitch in the minor leagues at one point. He allowed five home runs and tallied -0.4 bWAR across five starts last year before needing elbow surgery.
“You kinda gotta get punched in the mouth to know what you’re made of,” Manoah told “Foul Territory” in March, “and to know what you’re built like.”
The Blue Jays haven’t provided a recent timetable for when Manoah will make his first rehab start. However, it’d be hard to blame “Papa Puma” if he wanted to spend a bit of his recovery time with his newest fan.
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According to Blue Jays manager John Schneider, Manoah has a new nickname: “Papa Puma.”
Schneider told reporters ahead of Thursday’s game against the Boston Red Sox that Manoah is now a father. The 27-year-old and his wife, Marielena, welcomed a son in April.
Manoah remains away from the big-league club while returning from Tommy John surgery. According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, Schneider said the 2022 AL All-Star is throwing bullpens regularly in Dunedin, Fla.
Manoah is expected to rejoin the Blue Jays’ rotation during the second half.
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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek ManoahDan Hamilton-Imagn Images
It’s been a difficult few years for Manoah, who won 16 games with a 2.24 ERA and 6.0 bWAR en route to a third-place Cy Young finish in 2022. Things quickly went downhill, however, as the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Manoah went 4-11 with a 5.40 ERA over the last two seasons.
Manoah battled injuries and control issues, even refusing to pitch in the minor leagues at one point. He allowed five home runs and tallied -0.4 bWAR across five starts last year before needing elbow surgery.
“You kinda gotta get punched in the mouth to know what you’re made of,” Manoah told “Foul Territory” in March, “and to know what you’re built like.”
The Blue Jays haven’t provided a recent timetable for when Manoah will make his first rehab start. However, it’d be hard to blame “Papa Puma” if he wanted to spend a bit of his recovery time with his newest fan.
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Related: Former Blue Jays All-Star Shares Inspiring Message Amid Comeback Season
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