Alek Manoah feeling good about comeback with Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. — Alek Manoah compared his post-surgery arm to a rental car.

“When you drive your car and you use your brakes, you’re comfortable with your brakes,” he said. “You know exactly how sensitive they are and things like that. When you hop in a rental car, those first few stop signs might be a little (jarring).”

That, Manoah said, is what it’s like to be rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

“There’s going to be some spiked sliders and some fastballs that sail,” he said. “You’re just getting used to those brakes and those gas pedals and all that stuff.”

Manoah, who had Tommy John surgery in 2024, said it wasn’t until the end of the 2025 season that he felt like he was, to continue the comparison, back in his own car.

Now, the 28-year-old right-hander is going to show the baseball world if he can drive his old car the way he did before surgery.

In 2022, Manoah was an All-Star with the Toronto Blue Jays in his first full big-league season. He posted a 2.24 ERA in 31 starts as a 24-year-old, coming just shy of the 200-inning threshold that is so rarely reached these days.

Since then, he hasn’t been the same. He had knee, back, quad and shoulder injuries in 2023, posting a 5.87 ERA in 19 starts. Five starts into his 2024 season, he suffered the elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery.

He made it back for 10 minor-league rehab starts in 2025, but he never reached the majors. The Blue Jays let him go. The Atlanta Braves had him briefly over the winter, but they also let him go.

The Angels then signed him to a one-year, $1.95 million deal, taking a low-risk shot that he can get back to who he was.

Manoah said he’s in better shape than he was, thanks to a winter of doing “explosive movements.” That could help him add a little velocity.

“The biggest thing for me is when I get out on the mound and into games is the adrenaline, to just be able to be free and unlock the full intent,” Manoah said.

Manoah talks excitedly about how he feels and his new environment.

“This organization is amazing,” Manoah said. “I think the things they prioritize are great, the people in this clubhouse are great. I’m just super excited to join this group and help this group however I can. I’m excited to compete with these guys. There’s a lot of fire in this clubhouse. There’s a lot of want in this clubhouse. And that’s how I like to play the game. Being able to join this group, and help however I can, is really exciting to me.”

Manoah will have to win a rotation spot this spring. If not, he could be optioned to Triple-A, or he could pitch out of the bullpen.

If Manoah is good, he would be a valuable asset to the Angels, who would control him for next year too.

While that may seem like a big “if,” considering what Manoah has been through the past few years, it’s not to him.

The guy who was an All-Star in 2022?

“He never went anywhere,” Manoah said. “In ’23, I dealt with some stuff and then dealt with Tommy John. I’m 28 years old, man, so I’ve got plenty of time.”

GOOD TO GO

Right-hander Victor Mederos said he had a normal winter starting around mid-October, after initially taking some time off because of a sore shoulder that cost him the end of the season.

“Feeling great,” Mederos said. “Had a really good offseason. Just really just focused on the new mechanics and, cleaning it up. I feel like I’m in a good spot right now.”

Mederos, the Angels’ sixth-round pick in 2022, had seen his career stall before the Angels asked him to drop his arm angle in 2025. The new release point suddenly made him more effective. He had a 3.39 ERA at Triple-A, which earned him the opportunity to start in the majors. He pitched five games, and started three, before getting shut down as a precaution because of his sore arm.

He said he spent the rest of the winter continuing to refine his delivery with the new arm angle and feeling good about his position.

“I think it’s confidence more than anything,” Mederos said. “I think that confidence in this game is a huge thing. I’m very excited with the staff that we have.”

Mederos is likely to begin the season in the Triple-A rotation, but he’s on the short list of pitchers who could force his way into the big-league rotation or the bullpen.

NOTES

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will be heading to Japan for the World Baseball Classic later this week. He could be gone until the final week in Arizona. The Angels haven’t said where Kikuchi will slot into their rotation – he’s a candidate for the Opening Day start – but Suzuki it’s not necessary to decide that before Kikuchi leaves. “We have an idea of how we can line it up,” Suzuki said. “Until the time comes, we’ll just let him do this thing and go out there and keep getting ready for the season.” …

Catcher Juan Flores, who just turned 20, continues to make an impression in camp. This is his third big-league spring training. “I’ve seen him since he was 17 years old,” Suzuki said. “Watching him develop on both sides of the ball has been really fun. This kid has a chance to be really special.” Suzuki said Flores is good enough for the majors right now in terms of the physical skills of catching, like blocking, receiving and throwing, but he needs more work in other areas, like hitting. …

Christian Moore was back at second base after working out at third the previous two days. Moore is in the running for the everyday second-base job, but the Angels want to explore his versatility.