Fresh off breaking out as a fan favourite at the MLB All-Star Game, Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah is bringing the same showman energy to regular league play.
Manoah struck out all three batters he faced at the Midsummer Classic, made all the better by the fact he was mic’d up for the event, putting on a show and exclaiming “three punchies” after retiring the side.
On Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, he threw seven more of those “punchies” — and didn’t need a mic to be heard.
Manoah struck out three batters in his sixth and final inning of the afternoon, the last two of which were particularly emphatic. First, he took out Franchy Cordero, telling him to “sit down” with a couple choice words mixed in. Then he did it to Bobby Dalbec on his ensuing turn at the plate, yelling back to the batter as he left the mound for the last time with the Blue Jays up 3-1.
Making the moment even bigger, interim Blue Jays manager John Schneider sat down to talk with his 24-year-old pitcher after he finished his outing.
Here are some more reactions from another notable Manoah moment this season: