Trey Mancini had the honor of being the first player to step to the plate in the 2021 Home Run Derby. And while most MLB fans are tuning in to see Shohei Ohtani, Mancini arguably tops him in terms of being the best story in baseball.
The Baltimore Orioles veteran returned to the diamond in 2021 after battling cancer in 2020. Returning in general was a huge win. But Mancini mashed 24 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby to prove he is not just at the event as a good story. He is there to win.
#TreyMancini! What a start to the #HRDerby!
— MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2021
Trey Mancini shows off power in Denver
Mancini entered the Derby as the No. 6 seed and was matched up against Matt Olson in the first round. He put the pressure on Olson early and ended up advancing by a total of 24-23. So every single ounce of power Mancini had helped him make it to the next round.
But let’s quickly talk about how wild it is to see what Mancini is doing this year. He basically entered a year as a lock to be the Comeback Player of the Year, and that was before posting a positive WAR in the first half of the season.
Unfortunately, Mancini has to spend his season with the lowly Orioles, who are solely focused on building for the future. Yet he seems to enjoy his career there and is a free agent after the 2022 season.
The Orioles slugger is a great story, but Monday night, he may take his 2021 heroics to a brand new level.