Blue Jays sign first-round pick Alek Manoah and four other draftees

West Virginia pitcher Alek Manoah throws against Texas during an NCAA college baseball game Friday, April 26, 2019, in Austin, Texas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

TORONTO -- First-round pick Alek Manoah and four other draft selections were signed by the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.

Manoah was taken 11th overall by the Blue Jays in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft on June 3.

The six-foot-six, 260-pound West Virginia right-handed pitcher was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2019.

Manoah was 9-4 with a 2.08 earned-run average through 16 starts (108 1/3 innings) with the Mountaineers this season. He recorded 144 strikeouts and 27 walks.

He also pitched for the Chatham Anglers in the prestigious Cape Cod League, going 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 48 strikeouts and 11 walks over seven regular-season starts last summer.

Fourth-round selection Will Robertson (outfield), 10th round selection Glenn Santiago (shortstop), 11th rounder Nick Neal (first baseman/outfielder) and 16th round Jackxarel Lebron (shortstop) also signed on Thursday.

The Blue Jays also came to terms with non-drafted free agent right-handed pitcher Alex Nolan from Brock University.

Toronto tinkered with its MLB roster on Thursday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Nick Kingham from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.

To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Ryan Tepera was transferred to the 60-day injured list and will be eligible to be reinstated on July 20.

Kingham has made 10 relief appearances and four starts for the Pirates this season for a 1-1 record with a 9.87 ERA.

Also, the Blue Jays recalled right-handed pitcher Justin Shafer from triple-A Buffalo in time for Thursday night's game in Baltimore.

In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Elvis Luciano was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.