Angels Reinstate Alek Manoah: Can a Former Ace Reclaim His Throne in Anaheim?

The Los Angeles Angels made a significant roster move on Wednesday, officially reinstating right-hander Alek Manoah from the 15-day injured list. For a franchise starving for pitching consistency, the activation of the 28-year-old former All-Star represents a high-risk, high-reward gamble that could reshape the team’s rotation down the stretch. But after missing all of the 2025 season thus far with a finger contusion—and having not thrown a major league pitch since June 2024—the question is not whether Manoah can pitch, but whether the version of him that takes the mound in Anaheim is the 2022 Cy Young contender or the struggling arm that needed Tommy John surgery.

The corresponding move saw the Angels option left-hander Sam Aldegheri (1-0, 4.76 ERA) to Triple-A Salt Lake, signaling that the organization believes Manoah is ready to contribute immediately. This article breaks down the implications of this reinstatement, the road Manoah has traveled, and what fans should expect from the big righty in his Angels debut.

The Long Road Back: From Blue Jays Stardom to Angel Redemption

To understand the significance of this move, you have to look at the arc of Alek Manoah’s career. From 2021 through 2022, he was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. With the Toronto Blue Jays, Manoah posted a combined 29-20 record with a 3.34 ERA across 75 starts. His 2022 season was nothing short of spectacular: a 16-7 record, a 2.24 ERA, and a trip to the All-Star Game. He finished third in the American League Cy Young voting, and the 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame looked like a foundation piece for a decade.

Then came the fall. The 2023 season saw his command evaporate, his velocity dip, and his confidence shatter. He was demoted to the minor leagues, and the whispers of mechanical flaws grew louder. By June 2024, the decision was made: Tommy John surgery. It was a brutal end to his tenure in Toronto, as he didn’t pitch in the majors after that surgery. The Blue Jays non-tendered him in November, making him a free agent.

That’s where the Angels stepped in. In December, general manager Perry Minasian signed Manoah to a one-year, $1.95 million deal. It was a classic low-risk, high-upside flier. The Angels knew he wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day after rehabbing from surgery, but they were willing to wait. The finger contusion he suffered early in spring training only delayed the timeline further. Now, after months of rehab and simulated games, the Angels are finally ready to see what they bought.

What Manoah Brings to the Angels Rotation

The Angels’ rotation has been a patchwork quilt of injuries and inconsistencies. While Reid Detmers and Tyler Anderson have been steady, the back end has been a revolving door. Enter Alek Manoah, who, at his peak, was a ground-ball machine with a devastating slider and a heavy sinker that induced weak contact.

Here is a breakdown of what Manoah offers, based on his pre-surgery arsenal and recent reports from his rehab outings:

• Power Sinker (94-96 mph): His primary weapon. When he’s right, this pitch generates a 55% ground-ball rate. He lives down in the zone.
• Devastating Slider: His out-pitch against righties. In 2022, hitters batted just .186 against it.
• Changeup Improvement: Scouts noted he was working on a more consistent changeup in the minors before surgery. If that pitch is back, he becomes a three-pitch threat.
• Competitive Fire: Love him or hate him, Manoah brings an edge. He yells, he pounds the glove, and he attacks hitters. The Angels have lacked that bulldog mentality in the rotation.

The key question is velocity and command. Post-Tommy John, pitchers often take a full calendar year to regain their peak velocity. Early reports from his Triple-A rehab stint (which was brief) indicated his fastball was sitting 91-93 mph, down from his 2022 average of 95.5 mph. However, the finger contusion is fully healed, and the Angels believe his arm strength will build with each start.

“The stuff is there,” one Angels scout told reporters off the record. “The question is can he command it for 90 pitches? That’s the next step.”

Expert Analysis: The Risk and Reward of the Manoah Experiment

Let’s be brutally honest: Alek Manoah is a wild card. He has not thrown a major league pitch in over 14 months. He is coming off the most significant surgery a pitcher can have. And he is joining a team that has a history of struggling to develop or rehab pitchers (though the current staff under pitching coach Barry Enright has shown improvement).

However, the Angels are not asking him to be an ace. They are asking him to be a serviceable mid-rotation arm. For a team hovering around .500 and fighting for a wild-card spot, a Manoah who can give them 5-6 innings with a 4.00 ERA is a massive upgrade over what they were getting from the #5 spot.

The corresponding move of optioning Sam Aldegheri is telling. Aldegheri had a 4.76 ERA in limited action, and while he showed flashes, the Angels clearly value Manoah’s ceiling over Aldegheri’s floor. It also sends a message to the clubhouse: the front office is willing to bet on talent, even if it comes with baggage.

Let’s look at the numbers that matter for Manoah’s potential success:

• 2022 vs. 2023: In 2022, his walk rate was 2.3 per 9 innings. In 2023, it ballooned to 5.4 per 9. If he can get back under 3.5 walks per 9, he’s a solid starter.
• Home Run Rate: In 2022, he allowed 0.8 HR/9. In 2023, it jumped to 1.8 HR/9. Angel Stadium is more hitter-friendly than the Rogers Centre, so this is a concern.
• Health: The finger is fine. The elbow is reconstructed. The mental side is the last frontier. Can he handle failure in a new market?

Predictions: What to Expect in Manoah’s First Month Back

I’ve covered enough Tommy John rehabs to know that patience is required. Expect the Angels to be cautious. Manoah will likely be on a pitch count of 75-85 pitches in his first few starts. They will face a soft schedule initially—the Angels’ upcoming series include matchups against the Athletics and Royals—which gives him a chance to build confidence.

My prediction: Manoah will struggle with command in his first two starts. He’ll walk 3-4 batters per outing as he adjusts to the adrenaline and the big-league strike zone. However, by his third start, you will see flashes of the old Manoah. A dominant slider. A ground-ball double play. A fist pump after a big strikeout.

For the season, I project a 4.20 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and roughly 80 strikeouts over 100 innings if he stays healthy. That’s not an All-Star line, but for a pitcher who cost $1.95 million and was on the scrap heap, that is a massive win for the Angels.

The biggest variable is the mental game. Manoah has admitted in interviews that he “lost himself” during the 2023 collapse. The Angels have a strong support system, including veteran catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who is excellent at handling reclamation projects. If Manoah buys in and trusts the process, he could be a key piece for the Angels in 2026 and beyond.

Conclusion: A High-Stakes Gamble for a Hungry Franchise

The Los Angeles Angels are no strangers to taking chances on pitchers with injury histories. From Shohei Ohtani’s elbow rehabs to Noah Syndergaard’s one-year deal, the franchise has consistently rolled the dice on upside. The reinstatement of Alek Manoah is the latest—and perhaps most intriguing—bet.

If Manoah recaptures even 80% of his 2022 form, the Angels have effectively stolen a front-line starter for pocket change. If he falters, the cost is minimal, and they can pivot to younger arms like Jack Kochanowicz or Chase Silseth.

But for now, the narrative is one of hope. Hope that the 28-year-old can silence the doubters. Hope that the Tommy John surgery was a reset, not a death sentence. And hope that in a season where the Angels are fighting to stay relevant, Alek Manoah can be the wild card that changes their fortune.

His first start will be must-see television. The velocity readings will be dissected. The slider will be analyzed. But more than anything, the baseball world will be watching to see if a fallen star can rise again in Anaheim. The Angels are betting he can. And that makes for one of the most compelling stories of the 2025 season.

Source: Based on news from Deadspin.