Manoah’s star shines bright at MLB All-Star Game

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LOS ANGELES — The legend of Alek Manoah continues to grow.

An imposing presence on the mound with an infectious fire to him, All-Star Week at Dodger Stadium has given baseball fans across the sport a glimpse of the quotable, affable and honest side, one that’s sure to sell a few more Toronto Blue Jays threads with No. 6 on the back.

It’s cliché, but there’s no other way to say it: Manoah has that “it” factor, and it was on display as a 24-year-old sophomore surrounded by the biggest stars in the sport.

He not only fit right in, older stars seemed to gravitate to him.

The personality is backed up by the filthy stuff that he used to strike out the side in his All-Star Game debut Tuesday night in the second inning, his lone frame of the night with Jays teammate Alejandro Kirk behind the plate and the Fox broadcast team in his ear with a mic.

In a tightly-quartered old locker-room inside the historic stadium, Manoah, as usual, riffed with the media after his outing like it was second nature.

“Usually, when I talk to myself, no one talks back,” Manoah grinned. “But hearing them talk back and being able to have John Smoltz on the other side, that was pretty fun. Super electric.

“I could barely feel the ball in my hand,” he added. “That debut, a lot of emotions, start of a long journey.”

Perhaps the most Manoah moment of his quick 18-pitch All-Star Game debut was a slider that got away from him and hit Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets on the foot.

A rare All-Star Game hit-by-pitch, and Manoah shrugged it off like only he can.

“Supposed to be back foot, ended up front foot and whatever,” Manoah said. “It’s kind of who I am. Might strike you out, might hit you. You never know.”

He’s not lying.

Since the start of