Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-hander Alek Manoah received a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine Tuesday for intentionally throwing at Baltimore Orioles third baseman Maikel Franco on Saturday.
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo drew a one-game suspension for Manoah’s actions, MLB senior vice president for on-field operations Michael Hill announced.
Montoyo will serve his suspension Tuesday night and miss Toronto’s game at Miami. Manoah elected to appeal his suspension, which also would have started Tuesday against the Marlins.
Manoah, 23, had just given up back-to-back home runs to Ryan Mountcastle and DJ Stewart in the fourth inning on Saturday in Baltimore when he plunked Franco near his left shoulder with a first-pitch, 93.8-mph sinker. The two exchanged words before the benches cleared, with Manoah ultimately ejected.
Manoah allowed five runs on four hits — all homers — in 3 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. The Blue Jays went on to win 10-7.
A first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2019 draft, the 6-foot-6 Manoah made his debut on May 27 and is 1-0 with a 4.18 ERA in five starts this season. He has struck out 27 batters in 23 2/3 innings, but has walked nine and allowed seven homers.
–Field Level Media