Mancini is pumped for derby

Slugger to show ‘there’s life after a cancer diagnosis’

Orioles slugger Trey Mancini’s reason for accepting an invitation to next month’s Home Run Derby is a simple and unassailable one.

After missing all of the 2020 season because of surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon and the ensuing chemotherapy treatment, he wants his return to play this year to show others fighting cancer that there’s hope on the other side.

“The biggest reason why I wanted to do it was to show people that there’s life after a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy,” Mancini said Tuesday, shortly after announcing on social media his entrance to the All-Star event July 12 at Colorado’s Coors Field. “I was in a hospital last year, 12 times, for three or four hours at a time getting infused with chemo drugs. I want those people who are going through that right now to know that you can get through it and still live a normal life and try and compete after that. So more importantly, it’s kind of a duty that I feel to them as well.”

In discussing his entrance into the competition, which will also feature defending champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, Mancini said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity that he’d regret passing on for a few days off.

“Ten years from now, I don’t want to look back and wish that I did the Home Run Derby but instead opted for a couple days of rest,” he said. “I feel good physically. I don’t feel like I need the full four days, so it’s just something that I thought,

HOME RUN DERBY Coors Field, Denver July 12 TV: ESPN

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I’d look back one day and wish that I would have done it if I didn’t do it. So, it was pretty easy.”

Mancini’s entrance in the derby will give a national stage to a story he’s trying to share as much as possible. Already this year, his return to play in spring training and later in the regular season has garnered national attention. He’s supplemented that with appearances on morning talk shows and an in-person hit on “SportsCenter.”

“I want to use my platform for good, so any time I have a request or anybody wants me to talk about what I went through, and quite frankly, still do go through, I want to help others,” Mancini said.

It doesn’t seem as if there will be much specialized preparation for the derby for Mancini, who said he doesn’t plan to seek out much advice or otherwise waiver from his typical batting practice approach.

He’ll use his most recent Home Run Derby experience from his days at Notre Dame to guide him. Mancini said Chuck Ristano, the Notre Dame pitching coach, was throwing when Mancini won the 2012 Big East Home Run Derby, and they joked that if Mancini ever got to participate in the Major League Baseball version, Ristano would be manning the bucket for him.

“I’m keeping that promise, and he’s going to be the one throwing to me,” Mancini said.