Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini knocked a single up the center in his first at-bat of spring coaching on Sunday, however the base hit was something however bizarre for the four-year veteran.
Sunday’s recreation marked Mancini’s first contest in over a 12 months as he missed your entire 2020 season resulting from Stage 3 colon most cancers. Mancini acquired a standing ovation earlier than his first-inning single, tipping his cap to the gang earlier than stepping to the plate.
“It was wonderful,” Mancini mentioned postgame, per ESPN. “I nearly teared up a bit of bit, I am not going to lie, once I was up there and all people gave me a standing ovation and I noticed all the blokes on the sphere clapping on the Pirates, clapping in the dugout, our staff and all our followers.
“It meant the world to me. It was a extremely, actually cool second and one of many favourite moments of my baseball profession. I believe it was an enormous day for me, personally, getting again in a recreation. Simply one other type of milestone that I can test off right here.”
Mancini missed the 2020 season after a breakout marketing campaign in 2019. The 28-year-old hit 35 homers in 2019, driving in 97 RBI as he posted an .899 OPS. Mancini appeared in 5 spring coaching video games final 12 months earlier than present process surgical procedure resulting from colon most cancers.
Maybe Mancini’s return can carry the Orioles again over .500 in 2021. Baltimore completed fourth in the AL East at 25–35 final season, marking its fourth straight 12 months out of the playoffs.
