Darling backs Mancini for Comeback Player

Before Trey Mancini even played an official game this season, he was generating Comeback Player of the Year Award buzz. Now that he’s once again emerged as one of the top run producers in baseball, that chatter has only intensified, even though actual award season remains months away.

The latest example came this weekend, when MLB Network analyst Ron Darling, a cancer survivor himself, praised Mancini in a spot for the network. Mancini is on a torrid stretch this month, hitting .333/.416/.615 with five homers and 24 RBIs entering Monday’s series opener against the Twins at Target Field. He entered play leading the Majors with 41 RBIs in his first season back after beating colon cancer in 2020.

“What he did in 2019 was solidify himself as one of the tougher outs and clutcher batters in the game,” Darling said. “Now, post-cancer, Comeback Player of the Year is not even worthy of this young man’s story. What he’s done makes all of us proud. Proud that a guy can go through that during the pandemic, come out on the other side, and be the same exact player. That’s hard to do."

In doing so, Darling joined a growing chorus of support for Mancini to win the award, with Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Rays starter Rich Hill also championing Mancini for it in recent weeks. Speaking on the season’s opening weekend, Cora said Mancini should win it regardless of what he does on the field

“He can hit .330 or .180 and he’s the Comeback Player of the Year already,” Cora said. “I know there are other guys coming back from injuries, but to come back from [colon cancer] is amazing.”

“He would definitely have my vote, no doubt about that,” O’s manager Brandon Hyde said at the time.

Hill chimed in after he pitched six strong innings to beat the Orioles on May 20, beginning his postgame press conference by lauding Mancini unprompted.

“First, I just want to mention: Comeback Player of the Year should go to Trey Mancini,” Hill said. “I think that goes without saying. He’s a great guy and I’m happy to see him doing his thing back there on the field.”

The reality is, Mancini’s story touched many before he even set foot back on the field, helping to raise $80,000 for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance last summer and generating awareness that’s helped countless others. Mancini continues to partner with CCA and tell his story publicly, doing interviews with the Today Show, ESPN and Jim Rome in recent weeks on top of his regular media appearances.

His journey will only get more attention if he continues to play like he is, which is in many ways, better than during his breakout 2019 campaign. Mancini hit .291/.364/.535 with 35 home runs and 97 RBIs that season. This year, he’s on pace to drive in more than 140 runs, and as of Monday afternoon, was posting higher OPS+ (141), xwOBA (.398) and wRC+ (141) rates than in 2019.