Baltimore Orioles: Trey Mancini to be full-go for spring training
Baltimore Orioles OF/1B Trey Mancini is expected to be ready for spring training after a battle with cancer.
In what is perhaps the best news of the offseason for not only the Baltimore Orioles but the entire baseball community, Orioles first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini is expected to be ready to go on day one of spring training, whenever that happens to be in 2021.
Sara Pearlman, Fox Sports TV host and girlfriend of Trey Mancini, announced on Tuesday morning that Mancini’s three-month cancer screens came back clean, promising news for the 28-year-old who missed the entire 2020 season while battling stage three colon cancer.
On Wednesday afternoon, as heard on MLB Network Radio, Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias proclaimed that he is expecting to see Trey Mancini on day one of spring training.
This is certainly no small announcement and wonderful news for Mancini and the Orioles. With the departure of many well-known faces in Birdland over the last few years, Mancini has since assumed the role as the face of the Orioles franchise recently and has been a fan favorite since entering the major leagues on a full-time basis in 2017.
Mancini finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting that season after hitting .293 with a .826 OPS and 24 home runs.
From a baseball standpoint, Mancini’s return to the lineup will provide a much-needed boost for the Baltimore Orioles. With a crowded outfield in Baltimore, Mancini will likely spend most of his time at either first base or designated hitter in 2021.
He’s coming off a very impressive 2019 campaign where he slashed .291/.364/.535 with 35 home runs and 38 doubles in 154 games.
In a recent interview with Stan Charles and Glenn Clark for Pressboxonline.com, Mancini mentioned that he hasn’t lost any of his strength while going through chemotherapy and when he finally gets the opportunity to get back on the field with his teammates, he will be ready to go.
“Luckily I didn’t really lose much strength, somehow, throughout chemotherapy. When I’m working out, I basically feel like I did before. I feel ready to go now.”
All the best to Trey Mancini as he continues his return to the field after his inspirational battle. Watching him run down the orange carpet on Opening Day at Camden Yards back in a Baltimore Orioles uniform will be quite the emotional sight.