Trey Mancini to Represent Orioles in Home Run Derby

The Orioles’ star first baseman will take his comeback tour to the national stage with an invite to MLB’s Home Run Derby

On Saturday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reported that Major League Baseball had extended an invite to this year’s Home Run Derby to Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini. The report of the invite and Mancini’s decision makes him the third player confirmed to compete this year, joining the reigning Home Run Derby champion, Pete Alonso, and the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way phenom, Shohei Ohtani.

Taking place in the hitter-friendly conditions of Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, the Home Run Derby only adds to the comeback story of Trey Mancini that has inspired so many people in and out of baseball. Just 14 months ago, Mancini shared his stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis, which held him out of the 2020 season while undergoing several months of treatment. Since then, he has returned to form, playing baseball at the highest level and leading this Orioles team both on the field and in the clubhouse.

So far this season, Mancini is slashing .256/.332/.460 with a team-best 14 home runs to his credit. The 29-year-old’s max exit velocity ranks within the top 8% of Major League Baseball, tied with Texas Rangers slugger Nate Lowe at 113.9 MPH. Mancini’s 12.6% barrel rate in 2021, is the highest of his career, topping the 11.8% he posted in 2018. Mancini’s longest home run of the season thus far came against Matt Andriese and the Boston Red Sox on May 10th in the form of a go-ahead solo shot. The ball was launched 440 feet to center field with an exit velocity just a tick below 110 MPH.

Last Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Mancini reached a career milestone of home runs, hitting his 100th career home run off of Trent Thorton in the eighth inning. The achievement made Mancini just the 28th player in Baltimore Orioles history to hit 100 home runs with the franchise.

With improved power numbers and an incredible comeback story on his side, Mancini will attempt to give Baltimore its first Home Run Derby champion since Miguel Tejada in 2004 and its third in franchise history when the 2021 Home Run Derby begins Monday, July 12th.