BALTIMORE — Even earlier than he arrived at Camden Yards as a member of the highway workforce, this go to was already completely different for Trey Mancini.
“I rode the bus for the first time ever here,” he mentioned. “Got dropped off down here, rather than parking in the parking lot.”
Mancini performed in Baltimore on Thursday evening for the primary time because the Orioles despatched him to the Houston Astros a day earlier than the Aug. 2 commerce deadline. Mancini obtained a standing ovation in the second inning when he got here to the plate for the primary time, then struck out wanting.
“The fans and I here have such a good relationship, and they’re always going to be a special part of my baseball experience,” Mancini mentioned earlier than the sport. “So I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
The warm response from the followers wasn’t a shock. Mancini performed for the Orioles from 2016 till this August. When he missed all of 2020 following a colon most cancers analysis, then returned and received Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2021, it was certainly one of baseball’s heartwarming tales.
“That was my first time ever dealing with somebody being told they have cancer in my office, with parents there and loved ones, and listening to the doctors talk, and that was a day that I will never forget,” Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned . “I just learned so much from him, honestly, during that time — somebody that’s gone through this insane adversity. A young guy, getting this cancer that’s so rare for somebody his age, and to deal with it the way he did was so inspiring.”
The final time Mancini batted at Camden Yards as an Oriole was July 28. Fans gave him a giant ovation, simply in case he was traded earlier than the workforce’s subsequent house recreation, and he hit an inside-the-park house run.
Baltimore has remained in the postseason race even with out Mancini, though the Orioles are operating out of time. With their 2-0 victory Thursday evening, the Orioles remained 4 video games behind the Seattle Mariners for the ultimate wild card in the American League.
Mancini and the Astros have already clinched the AL West title, setting him as much as play in the postseason for the primary time. He made his main league debut in 2016 — the final time Baltimore certified — however performed solely 5 video games for the Orioles that yr and wasn’t a participant once they misplaced at Toronto in the wild-card recreation.
From then on, Mancini hit over 20 homers in each season he performed for Baltimore till he was traded this yr. On Thursday, he was again, however in the guests’ clubhouse this time.
“I didn’t really know where anything was in the locker room, where the kitchen was, anything like that,” he mentioned. “So it was a little strange being in such a familiar place but being so unfamiliar with part of it.”
Before the sport began, Mancini obtained a short tribute on the scoreboard and followers gave him a pleasant ovation. He doffed his cap and clapped his palms in response. Then got here the prolonged reception earlier than his first at-bat.