Just over three months before the scheduled start of spring training, Oriole first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini said he’s happy with his progress. Mancini underwent colon cancer surgery on March 12 and missed the 2020 season while rehabbing and undergoing chemotherapy.
“Health-wise, I’m feeling great,” Mancini said during a video conference call from Nashville on Wednesday. “I feel totally like myself, working out, hitting and just getting ready for spring training.”
Mancini is scheduled to report to spring training in Sarasota, Florida along with the other position players on February 21st.
“My coordination is just as good as it was, and everything feels fantastic,” Mancini said. “I feel strong and like myself.”
Mancini hasn’t spoken with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde about the Orioles’ specific plans for him in 2021.
In 2020, Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and DJ Stewart played the outfield, and it seems likely that Mancini will play first base in 2021.
“We haven’t really talked about that too much,” Mancini said. “Obviously, I’ve been through a lot this year, so that’s kind of the last thing on our minds. But now that we’ve turned that corner, it’s obviously something everybody’s thinking about.
“I said this my rookie year, I’ll say it now: Wherever they want me to play, whatever they want me to do, I’ll do it. I never take that for granted. Getting to play major league baseball every day that’s been my dream my whole life.
“If they want me in the outfield, I’ll play outfield. If they want me at first, I’ll be there. DH, I’ll be there. If they want to try me out at second base, I’ll do it. I don’t recommend that. Literally, whatever they want. I’m thankful to go out there and perform for the team, and I know I’ll do that.”
More than $80,000 was raised through the sales of #F16HT T-shirts, which benefits the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
“It just means the world to me,” Mancini said.
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Ya just hafta love this guy. His willingness to do “whatever they want” is SO refreshing. The overwhelming majority of MLB players have seemingly forgotten they’re living the dream, playing a game for a living and being paid more money than 99% of the people in the world. And I believe Trey feels that way sincerely, not just because of what he’s gone thru this past year but because he simply realizes how fortunate he is to do that. I’m old enough to remember when athletes needed off season jobs to supplement their incomes. I wish him nothing but the best in all he does, not just when he’s wearing an O’s uniform. He deserves it.
You can toss your ballots for 2021 Comeback Player of the Year Award in the trash. that race is already over. Mancini is fast becoming one of my all-time favorite Orioles. The guy has done everything asked of him from day one, and has been a professional throughout. He's been the best player and face of the team, and the organization won't even make him the starting first baseman. A lesser man would have demanded a trade by now. As slimy as professional sports has become, it's good to know there are still players whom you can point out to your sons and say "that's how it's done, boy. THAT is a ballplayer".
Class act & the consummate team player...go O’s...
DLGruber and BanMo beat me to all the accolades for Mancini. You do have to love him and love his attitude. Best of all, he seems to have caught his illness early enough to have beaten it.
So why the heck haven't Elias and ownership talked to him about specific plans? I'm guessing that he's trade bait. Like BanMo said, it's a slimy business, and the O's seem to lead the league in that department.
Next question ... Is it a mere coincidence that Mancini is being interviewed for this piece from Nashville of all places? Hmmmmm ...
Ken, Trey has often spent offseasons in Nashville. It's a popular place for players to train.
Thanks Rich. I was just going for some grins there. No doubt that the Angelos brothers would never sell out the fans of Baltimore. :)
Hopefully he didn’t have dinner w/Timberlake...lol...go O’s...
CP, Trey is way too smart and would never agree to play for a team owned by Timberlake. He knows that Timberlake is untrustworthy and quite capable of tearing the shirt of your chest... just ask Janet Jackson...lol
Awesome news on a awesome player! He is the ultimate team player who just so happens to be their best player! If you wanted to build a team around a certain player HE would be that player! His work ethic is off the charts and a great team leader to have in the clubhouse and on the field. He certainly will be ready when the season starts due to this great work ethic. And when the season starts, he and his teammates will be full go with they're tanks full.
Speaking of tanks and tanking. Here are the Orioles last four seasons records and you will see the improvement going in the right direction:
Year. W L
2017: 75 87 Last place and underachieved
2018: 47 115 Last place, tanked again, underachieved again and traded away all significant players. Team declares a rebuild to start over. Front office and manager fired. All of this mess under the old front office.
2019: 54 108 During the off season team brings in new front office, manager and coaching staff. Also brings in new analytics and staff for such for their minor leagues and mostly new coaches for minor leagues as shake up is done up and down entire organization including bringing in new overseas staff. Last place but record improves with mostly castaway players as team tries to scramble to get out of the mess left by old front office.
2020: 25 35. 4th place and played .500 team ball up until last couple weeks of the season. So if anyone believes they're tanking then they know nothing about a team rebuild to start over.
Can’t wait until the NBA starts back up...go O’s...
I can't wait too!!! My 17 time NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers!!!!!!!
I bet you scouted for them as well.
LMAO, see how that worked, go O’s...
Why don't you two just stick to what you do best? Oh wait a minute, you both don't do anything best. But you both could get unicycles, makeup kits and some bowling pins without much expense knowing your current jobs and join the circus and if you can't juggle things then the rest of the clowns will teach you.
LMAO, see how that worked, go O’s…
Obviously we can piss you off easily enough, like MasterCard, priceless...go O’s...
No, I just piss on you.
Still cutting & pasting...go O’s...
Class guy and there is no reason to think he won’t be back and healthy too. If the Orioles want to be taken seriously it’s time to just say good bye to the worst player in the league Chris Davis. I can’t think of one franchise that would still have him on their roster the way he has performed the last three years.
Such an uplifting and positive attitude! I am confident that Mancini will have one of his best years ever in 2021. No reason not to believe this...we all remember how well Eric Davis played in 1998 after being diagnosed with colon cancer the year before.
Great picture (above) of Trey! What makes the pic even better are seeing fans in the background...I almost forgot what that looks like.
Only good news from 2020.
What a class act! Refreshing