Trey Mancini jumped onto the major league scene in September, when he homered in his major league debut against the Boston Red Sox. He also made franchise history, as he proceeded to homer in his next two games, becoming the first Baltimore Orioles player to hit home runs in his first three career starts. The 24-year-old prospect has made his way up the minor league ladder and appears on the cusp of making the major league roster in the spring.
The 24-year-old prospect has made his way up the minor league ladder and appears on the cusp of making the major league roster in the spring.
A former eighth-round pick in 2013 from the University of Notre Dame, Mancini is now the Orioles no. 5 prospect, according to MLB.com. He was promoted to the major leagues after Steven Pearce suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing arm in late September. In five games, he went 5-for-15 with three home runs and a double.
Mancini has proven he can hit at all levels. In 546 at-bats this year between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, he smashed 20 home runs with 68 runs batted in while hitting .282/.357/.458. In 2015, he crushed Double-A pitching, hitting .359 in 84 games, on his way to being named the franchise’s Minor League Player of the Year.
Unfortunately, he sits behind Chris Davis on the depth chart at first base, which has delayed his major league career. In 2017, the Orioles may have a spot for him on the roster due to the possible departures of free agents Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez. Mancini’s bat could also find its way into the lineup against left-handed pitching. He hit all three of his major league home runs against lefties and hit .370 against lefties in ’15.
But Mancini will have to prove he can hit more than just lefties to make the Orioles roster. Scouts are not overly impressed by his athletic ability or his defense, however, his bat has turned some heads. In his short stint in the big leagues, he has already shown a glimpse of his potential at the plate. He will have to prove over an extended period of time that he belongs.
If Mancini can continue to improve at the plate, the Orioles will have themselves someone who can thrive as an offensive weapon in Camden Yards. Mancini looks to me like an everyday first basemen or possibly corner outfielder that can hit 25 plus homers. When we will we get to see Mancini every day will be up to the Orioles front office and the decisions they make this offseason.
Josh Belanger is the Nationals and Orioles writer for Outside Pitch Sports Network. You can connect with him on Facebook and also on Twitter.
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