Storyline: If Trey Mancini can hit like he did in the minors and can also improve on defense as he learns a new position, I think he’ll be the O’s future in right field.
Opening Week in baseball is here! Teams are getting a feel for the players they’ll need throughout the season–especially the ones that might help them earn a playoff berth.
For the Baltimore Orioles that means having consistency in the outfield. Last year the Orioles platooned Joey Rickard and Mark Trumbo. and it was obvious that they needed more. They added Seth Smith via trade in the off-season, but frankly he’s an average ballplayer. He hit .249 with 16 homers last year with the Mariners. Can his numbers improve at 34 years of age? Probably not. Besides, Smith is an average defender.
Trey Mancini (photo, Birds Watcher)
Trey Mancini is the spark the Orioles need. Mancini hit is stride the last two seasons–going between Double A Bowie and Triple A Norfolk–hitting .282 with 20 home runs.
But Mancini has been playing first base. Because Chris Davis is a fixture there the O’s experimented with Mancini at right this spring. Believe me, he sure looked like an upgrade over Mark Trumbo.
Here’s the bottom line: If Mancini can hit like he did in the minors and steadily improve on defense as he learns a new position, I think he’s the O’s future in right field.
