When Trey Mancini played for the Orioles, he was one of the most popular players among fans, teammates and his managers.
Mancini, who formally announced his retirement on Tuesday, was an eighth-round draft pick by the Orioles in 2013 after attending Notre Dame.
On September 20th, 2016, Mancini played his first game with the Orioles, hitting a home run, the first of 117 homers he hit for the team. His last came in his final home game before he was traded to Houston.
Mancini, who stole two bases in his major league career, legged out an inside-the-park home run on July 28th, his final home game as an Oriole.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Brandon Hyde, his second and final manager with the Orioles wrote in a text message. “How many incredible adjectives can I write?”
Mancini was the best player on teams that lost 108 games in 2018, Hyde’s first as Orioles manager, when he hit 35 homers and drove in 97 runs with an .899 OPS and in 2021, the year he returned from missing a year because of colon cancer surgery and rehabilitation. That year, he hit 21 homers and drove in 71 runs, winning the Comeback Player of the Year award.
“It’s hard to put into what Trey means to me,” Hyde wrote. “He is loved by everyone that has had the fortune to be in his presence. His kindness and genuine spirit is unmatched and he positively impacts everyone around him.
“His determination, grit and toughness is a huge inspiration to me and countless others. I love the guy and look forward to seeing him dominate the next chapter in his life.”
Hyde watched as Mancini was traded to the Houston Astros on August 1st, 2022. Mancini struggled with the Astros, but won a World Series with the team.
He signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs for the 2023 season but was let go by the Cubs on August 2nd, 2023, and played in the minor leagues for Cincinnati, Arizona and the Los Angeles Angels before a brief return to the majors earlier this season.
“This year was icing on the cake,” Adam Jones said in a call from Barcelona, Spain, where he’s now living. “I know he wants to do it for his daughter and his wife, and how special that is.”
After hitting .308 in five games, Mancini’s career has come to an end.
“Being able to witness his debut was special,” Jones said. “From Day One, he brought nothing but energy, professionalism, the grind and a huge, huge smile to our clubhouse.
“I saw him joining a really good talented team already, he’s fitting right in. Personality-wise, he fit in. He fit in, the way he played, the hunger. Being asked to play first base, left field, DH, right field. He just showed up every day ready to work. That’s why we called him ‘Boom Boom’ because he was ready to go every single day. That’s what you want to see, especially as a young guy.”
Jones, who was the team leader on some excellent Orioles teams, left after the 2018 season, and he passed along the admiration for Mo Gaba, a young Baltimore boy stricken with cancer.
“He kept Mo Gaba Day going because Mo meant so much to myself,” Jones said. “Once Trey got to meet him, he just fell in love with him himself, and kept those kind of traditions going.”
Mancini became even closer with Gaba when he was diagnosed with cancer in March 2020, just four months. before Mo’s death. Mancini’s last home game with the Orioles came precisely two years after Gaba’s death.
Buck Showalter was his first manager with the Orioles, and he also admired Mancini.
“Quality. Good human being, good teammate. Going to be a good father, husband,” Showalter said. “He made himself. He made you take notice. He catches your eye. He’s just got an alert, sincere face.”
Showalter played him in different positions, and it didn’t bother Mancini.
“He didn’t care,” Showalter said. “Whatever he needed to do. Never once quivered when it came to the team and very approachable, very consistent personality, not a lot of ups and downs. Nobody ever came in and said: ‘Trey’s in a bad mood today.’ He was the same guy every day, ready to play.
“He went through some periods where he wasn’t a good offensive player. He was a really great offensive player. He got in some streaks offensively where he hit the ball hard about every time he went up there.”
Mancini’s comeback from cancer didn’t surprise people who knew him best.
“What’s the next obstacle?” Showalter said. “Okay, bring it on. Let’s go, get after it. Left field, right field, cancer? Let’s go.”
“That’s bigger than the game,” Jones said. “We build our dreams, play a professional sport, but then when something like that happens, you have to really take a step back. So many people reached out to Trey throughout. this time and I know he has such a great support system and they got his butt right back on the field with that big smile, winning Comeback Player of the Year. He had a great career, but I think his impact on not just baseball players, but kids with cancer…He’s more than just a baseball player.”
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