Tag: Irish in MLB

Watch: ESPN Cover Story covers Trey Mancini’s colon cancer battle

The Notre Dame alumnus has had quite the journey recently.

Before covering Trey Mancini’s near-win in the Home Run Derby, ESPN debuted a new piece about the Notre Dame product. Mancini, who is back with the Baltimore Orioles after missing all of the 2020 season, is one of baseball’s feel-good stories this year. Watching him play over the past few months, one never would have guessed that he isn’t far removed from stage 3 colon cancer. However, that’s exactly the case, and ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg set out to tell Mancini’s story ahead of MLB’s All-Star festivities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlVUNoOonf4

It doesn’t matter how long someone goes through chemotherapy or if the cancer even goes away. The whole thing is an experience no one should ever have to go through. While we don’t know if a cure for cancer will be developed during our lifetime, simply telling stories like Mancini’s gives us the motivation to keep that journey going. Every little bit will help us achieve that ultimate goal.

[listicle id=30400]

Trey Mancini at the Home Run Derby: photo gallery

Look at the Notre Dame product on his big night.

Trey Mancini may not have won this year’s Home Run Derby, but he won plenty of support with the 59 homers he slugged over three rounds. The Notre Dame product and Baltimore Orioles slugger is coming off of stage 3 colon cancer, but there was much more to the story than that. He had Irish pitching coach Chuck Ristano as his personal pitcher, fulfilling a promise he made after the duo teamed up to help him win the 2012 Big East Home Run Derby. Although it seemed far-fetched at the time, things always have a way of working out.

Were it not for Pete Alonso of the New York Mets putting on a winning show for his second straight win in this event, we’d be talking about something too whimsical for real life the comprehend. Alas, Mancini will have to settle for the title of Home Run Derby runner-up. Here are some images from his big night in Denver:

Watch: Notre Dame pitching coach Chuck Ristano talks Trey Mancini

Hear some valuable insights from one half of the Notre Dame contingent for this year’s Home Run Derby.

The Home Run Derby, to be held one day before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Denver, will have a Notre Dame flavor. That’s because Irish product and Baltimore Orioles slugger Trey Mancini is competing. What’s more, he’s inviting Irish pitching Chuck Ristano to be his personal pitcher for the event, fulfilling a promise Mancini made when the two teamed up for Mancini’s win in the 2012 Big East Home Run Derby. It’s an anecdote mention in an interview Ristano gave to MASN, which broadcasts Orioles games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R795yg8rO0

Ristano gives plenty of insight as it pertains to Mancini’s connection with Notre Dame. Among them are Mancini completing his degree requirements at the university while he played in the minor leagues and the impact of former Irish catcher Ricky Palmer, who lost his battle with cancer whereas Mancini survived his. Most importantly, Mancini’s connection with his alma mater has not wavered in the least, and that should make all Irish fans proud.

Watch: Trey Mancini video released to promote Home Run Derby

Get hyped for the former Irish star’s big moment coming soon.

It’s been quite a year for Baltimore Orioles slugger and former Notre Dame player Trey Mancini. His reward for coming back after being diagnosed with colon cancer, at least for the moment, is the opportunity to compete in this year’s Home Run Derby. To get fans excited about him being at the appetizer to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Denver, the following video has come out:

Mancini is one of the few bright spots for the struggling Orioles, achieving an OPS of .789, hitting 14 home runs and driving in 52 runs. He hopes to display some of his power when Irish pitching coach Chuck Ristano serves as his personal pitcher during the derby. He also might secretly be hoping that it will serve as a showcase for any team interested in him at the trade deadline. Whatever his motives are, he will want to take advantage of a moment during which the entire baseball universe squarely will be watching him.

Notre Dame product Trey Mancini to compete in Home Run Derby

The Irish will have representation for the return of the Home Run Derby.

For the first time, Notre Dame will have representation in Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby. That representation will come from Baltimore Orioles slugger Trey Mancini. The Irish baseball Twitter account sent its congratulations his way:

Mancini has 14 home runs this season and is among the major-league leaders in RBIs with 52. He joins a field that currently has Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angels Angels and defending champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. The field will be rounded out with five more participants before the event is held July 12 at Coors Field in Denver. It will serve as a tuneup for the All-Star Game the next day.

Mancini is in the middle of quite the comeback season after he missed 2020 to be treated for Stage 3 colon cancer. However, the Orioles are dead-last in the American League and pretty much have no further use for Mancini’s services. It’s likely he gets moved at or before the trade deadline, and there are a few teams that could benefit from him.

 

Examining Mark Feinsand’s fits for Trey Mancini before trade deadline

Where could the Notre Dame product be headed at or before the trade deadline?

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has Notre Dame product Trey Mancini as a trade deadline candidate with rising stock. The Baltimore Orioles are in the cellar of the American League, and with Mancini arbitration-eligible for one more season, it makes little sense for one of baseball’s best run producers in 2021 to stay where he is. Feinsand offers three teams that might benefit more from Mancini’s talents. With 47 RBIs this season and a .979 OPS over the past month, Mancini could contribute to one of these suitors:

New York Yankees welcome Trey Mancini back to Yankee Stadium

First-class gesture from an Orioles division rival.

We all know about the health struggles former Notre Dame player and current Baltimore Oriole Trey Mancini’s had to go through. Having been diagnosed with colon cancer, he missed the entire 2020 season. Now cancer-free, he has reclaimed his spot in the Orioles’ lineup. On Monday, the Orioles traveled to New York to play the Yankees, who tweeted out how happy they were to see Mancini, who started as the designated hitter, back in the Bronx:

Mancini’s last game at Yankee Stadium was Aug. 14, 2019, a 6-5 Orioles loss. He walked and scored twice in that game. Entering Monday, he has a career slash line of .271/.323/.475 at the ballpark and 13 RBIs. His six home runs there are the most at any stadium other than Camden Yards.

Through three games, Mancini has gone 3 for 12 with a double while driving in three runs, scoring three more and achieving an OPS of .619. He also has one sacrifice fly.

Watch: Brandon Bielak has perfect relief outing for first win of 2021

Brandon Bielak did incredibly well in his first 2021 appearance.

Former Notre Dame pitcher Brandon Bielak had quite the 2021 debut for the Houston Astros on Sunday. Called on to relieve Jose Urguidy with one out in the fifth inning, Bielak could not have had a better afternoon. Bielak pitched 4 2/3 perfect innings and struck out four to earn his first victory of the season as the Astros finished a road sweep of the Oakland Athletics by a 9-2 final. There was no need for Dusty Baker to use anymore of his bullpen while watching a performance like this:

Bielak, who celebrated his 25th birthday Friday, has been with the Astros since they selected him during the 11th round of the 2017 Amateur Draft. To date, Bielak is the only draftee from that round to crack the majors. He’s also the most recent Irish player to get to baseball’s highest level. While he hasn’t proven himself a starter there yet, he’s young enough to still do so, and this outing was a nice push in that direction.