Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah shut down for rest of 2023 after receiving multiple arm injections

Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah’s 2023 season is officially over.

The 25-year-old has been shut down from throwing after receiving multiple injections in his right pitching arm over the past few weeks, Sportnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported on Thursday. Testing remains ongoing for the 2023 Opening Day starter.

While meeting with numerous medical experts, it was determined those shots would help alleviate the inflammation and discomfort Manoah has expressed concern about.

Nicholson-Smith also notes team doctors haven’t discovered any structural damage, although Manoah has continued meeting with health specialists over the last month. Those visits have been to rule out any elbow or shoulder ailments, particularly Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

When the 2022 All-Star was initially optioned to triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 11, the plan was for the right-hander to provide depth during Toronto’s stretch run toward securing a playoff position. But he waited almost a month before reporting to the Bisons after undergoing a full series of tests to determine if he was experiencing any physical wear and tear.

Manoah was placed on the temporarily inactive list earlier this month to open a roster spot as Buffalo nears the end of its 2023 campaign. The 6-foot-6 hurler hasn’t thrown off a mound since his final start with the Blue Jays on Aug. 10 against the Cleveland Guardians.

A horrendous third big-league season for the Homestead, Fla., native concludes with a miserable 5.87 ERA and 6.02 FIP across 19 starts. He made a pair of minor-league starts as well as behind-the-scenes adjustments following his first demotion of the season in June. Upon returning to the majors on July 7, he compiled six additional outings before returning to the minors.

With an eye on 2024, Manoah will hope to enjoy a healthy off-season before pitchers and catchers report to Dunedin next spring, where he’ll be forced to compete for a starting rotation spot – likely joining Bowden Francis in that regard.