Breaking Down Trey Mancini’s Special Home Run Derby Bid
Trey Mancini’s performance in the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday is another milestone to add to his incredible comeback story
On Monday, Major League Baseball presented the 2021 Home Run Derby as part of the league’s annual midsummer All-Star festivities. Eight players were nominated to participate in the bracket-style competition, including the Baltimore Orioles‘ very own, Trey Mancini.
Mancini’s acceptance of the invite to the derby was something fans around baseball celebrated when it was reported by The Athletic’s Dan Connolly back in June. At that point, Mancini was just 14 months removed from sharing with the world his diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer. After several months of treatment, Mancini shared that he was officially cancer-free in November of last year and would be working his way back into baseball.
On Opening Day at Fenway Park, Mancini was met with heartwarming ovations from fans in attendance as well as high praise from members of the opposing Boston Red Sox team. Red Sox manager Alex Cora believed before the season even began that what Mancini had fought through to return playing with the Orioles was well-deserving of this year’s Comeback Player of the Year Award:
“He should be the Comeback Player of the Year, regardless. He can hit .330 or .180. He’s the Comeback Player of the Year already. I know there’s other guys that are going to come back from injuries, but to come back from this is amazing, and he did an outstanding job in spring training, getting ready, you can see the swings, he looks like he’s the same guy as two years ago, and I’m very happy that he’s back. I’m very happy for the Orioles organization to have their leader back, and I think everybody in this clubhouse appreciates that he’s playing again.”
Now more than halfway through the 2021 season, Mancini hasn’t skipped a beat from the caliber of play he’s showed in 2019. In 362 plate appearances this season, Mancini is slashing .256/.331/.460 with a team-leading 16 home runs.
Round 1: Trey Mancini (6) vs. Matt Olson (3)
Seeded by total home runs, Mancini was given the sixth seed in the bracket, which lined him up to face Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson in round one. Olson is rightfully considered one of the best pure power hitters in baseball, holding the third-highest ISO among American League hitters to this point in the season.
As the very first batter of the night, Mancini would have to shake off any possible stage fright in order to defeat Olson and avoid being a first-round exit. Thankfully, the calm demeanor of Mancini is what came through at the plate, allowing him to mash just enough and skate by Matt Olson with a final score of 24-23.
Round 2: Trey Mancini (6) vs. Trevor Story (7)
In the second round of the derby, Mancini was tasked with facing Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story. Throughout his run, Story had the hometown fans at Coors Field behind him, cheering him onto an upset victory over Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo in round one. His appearance in the derby may have been the last meaningful performance Story will have in a Rockies uniform as the team looks to move on from him at the trade deadline.
Being the higher seed, Mancini had the luxury of hitting second in this matchup, giving him an idea of how many home runs to aim for. A clearly-fatigued Story could muster just 12 home runs in his time at the plate, allowing Mancini to slug the 13 home runs needed to advance to the final round of the derby.
Round 3: Trey Mancini (6) vs. Pete Alonso (5)
For the final round, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso would be Mancini’s opponent with the trophy at stake. In 2019, Alonso launched 53 home runs, setting the all-time rookie record and winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Alonso won the 2019 Home Run Derby and with the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the event in 2020, Alonso returned to defend his title in 2021.
Batting first under the abbreviated final round clock, Mancini got on a roll and was able to launch 22 home runs. However, it was clear nearly the entire night that the reigning champion was on a different level of competition. Alonso hit 17 home runs in the standard two minutes, followed by six consecutive swings good for home runs to open his bonus time that would bring Mancini’s run to its end. Alonso is now just the fourth player in MLB history to win the Home Run Derby twice.
Although the outcome wasn’t Mancini hoisting the trophy, his run to the final round of the derby joins John Means‘ no-hitter and Cedric Mullins‘ All-Star bid as yet another small part of this rebuilding season that Orioles fans can celebrate.