Blue Jays Make Alek Manoah Announcement Before Red Sox Game

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 Thursdays 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 Sportsnets 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 ImagesIts 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 youre made of, Manoah told Foul Territory in March, and to know what youre built like.The Blue Jays havent provided a recent timetable for when Manoah will make his first rehab start.

However, itd 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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