Orioles' Trey Mancini met with standing ovation in first at-bat since cancer fight
Trey Mancini returned to the diamond with a warm welcome from socially distanced fans and peers at the Baltimore Orioles spring training facility. It was the first game back for the first baseman after undergoing surgery and recovering from colon cancer in 2020.
The Orioles opened Grapefruit League play against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday with a 25% capacity crowd at Ed Smith Stadium. Mancini received an ovation after warm-ups and a full-on ovation as he stepped into the box for his first at-bat in a calendar year. He was back in the batting order in the two-hole.
It was a feel-good moment for Mancini, but also for everyone as the nation still grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. Both dugouts also began cheering when he went up to bat.
These are the moments you #F16HT for.
Take it in, @TreyMancini 👏 pic.twitter.com/DmiRskAYVD— Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) February 28, 2021
Mancini hit a single off of Chad Kuhl and later stole second base, but it was called back due to batter's interference. The Orioles shared a cool shot of his hit from the dugout.
Back in his element.
Trey followed up the curtain call with a base knock. pic.twitter.com/huG3ZPZeoe— Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) February 28, 2021
But the view from the press box really showcases the fan support in the stadium.
Trey Mancini laced a single to center in his first at bat back from colon cancer. He then stole second (but was forced back due to batter interference). #Orioles
Watch his hit here: pic.twitter.com/DOLW6m0IVm— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) February 28, 2021
Mancini said afterward he almost teared up during the ovation and it "meant the world to me."
"It was amazing. I almost teared up a bit, I'm not gonna lie."
Trey Mancini was moved by the standing ovation he received before his first big league at-bat in almost a full year. pic.twitter.com/pOfTK0YSrp— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) February 28, 2021
Mancini, 28, underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon in March 2020. He was one of the club's few bright spots in an extensive rebuild and hit .275/.334/.480 over three full MLB seasons. Mancini averaged 28 home runs and 29 doubles in each season, buoyed by a career-best 35 home runs in 2019.
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