Toronto Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah was mic’d up during the second inning of the All-Star Game, and it was unique to say the least.
Manoah earned the second starter nod from Dusty Baker, just behind Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays. McClanahan gave up two earned runs, including a home run to Paul Goldschmidt.
But Manoah fared a little better. And he did so while on the mic with the FOX broadcast booth, which made facing a group of All-Stars even tougher.
Yet, Manoah showed off his competitive fire, and even took a pitch request from Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer John Smoltz. He threw the slider, and it did not go well.
John Smoltz dared Alek Manoah to strike out the side on a back-foot slider.
"Ah, you sexy!"
Manoah obliged… to mixed results 😅
🎥 @BlueJayspic.twitter.com/3Dm6WL1OwG
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 20, 2022
Sexy, indeed. Manoah plunked Mets utility hitter Jeff McNeil, which New York fans surely were not happy about.
Leave it to Smoltz to stir the bot.
Alek Manoah mic’d up: Best memes and tweets
Manoah is one of the best young pitchers in the American League, and a big reason why the Blue Jays let Robbie Ray walk this past offseason. Ray is now in Seattle.
Yet, it was Manoah’s personality which shined the most on Tuesday night. It took some getting used to, but baseball fans couldn’t get enough:
Patrick Mahomes even reacted!
Alek Manoah is mic’d up and throwing strikeouts at the same time during the MLB All-Star game 🔊pic.twitter.com/eEYdpEFvtP
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 20, 2022
It was a bold move by FOX, but please, we need more of this in our lives.