MLB Players Vote Trey Mancini 2021 AL Comeback Player, Ryan Mountcastle 2021 AL Rookie Outstanding – CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini won the 2021 Players’ Choice award for the American League’s returning player after defeating Stage III colon cancer and returned to play 147 games in 2021.

The award was voted on by Major League Baseball players.

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During the season, Mancini reached 0.255 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs in 616 home plate appearances. Perhaps the highlight was that Mancini reached the Home Run Derby final a day before the MLB All-Star Game, just short of future New York Mets winner Pete Alonso.

After being diagnosed during spring 2020 training, Mancini missed the pandemic shortened season as he recovered from surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon and underwent six months of chemotherapy treatment .

“It means the world to me,” Mancini said of the award in a video posted by the Major League Baseball Players Association. “There were a lot of times in the last year that I wasn’t exactly sure I could play again.”

Current and former teammates and players across the league praised Mancini’s accomplishments in the same video.

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“For him to have the perseverance not only to be healthy and improve, but also to come back and flaunt the numbers he made this year is unfathomable, honestly,” said the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray

Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle said seeing Mancini throughout the season was inspiring.

“For you, overcoming the obstacles you have had to face is really amazing,” he said.

The definition of a fighter and an inspiration for many 💪

MLB players chose @TreyMancini as a returning player from AL 2021! Congratulations, Trey 👏 A well-deserved honor.

Presented by @MLBTheShow # PCA21@Orioles pic.twitter.com/EX9F7lCw9G

– MLBPA (@MLBPA) 28 October 2021

Mountcastle has also been recognized by his peers, winning the 2021 Players’ Choice award for Outstanding American League Rookie after reaching .255 with 33 homers and 89 RBIs. He set the franchise’s mark for One-Season Home Tours by a rookie.

On the way to the top!

MLB players have chosen Ryan Mountcastle as outstanding 2021 AL rookie! Congratulations, Ryan!

Presented by @MLBTheShow # PCA21@Orioles pic.twitter.com/itxXbc8x72

– MLBPA (@MLBPA) 28 October 2021

Former Oriole Mark Belanger, who played in Baltimore from 1965 to 1981, won the Curt Flood Award for “a former player, living or deceased, who, like Flood, has shown dedication. long-standing and selfless towards the Players Association and player advancement. “Rights”, according to MLB.com.

The late Mark Bélanger, a longtime player advocate as a board member and the first former player hired to work for the union, is the 2021 recipient of the Curt Flood Award.

Presented by @MLBTheShow # PCA21 pic.twitter.com/OzqASoCT4m

– MLBPA (@MLBPA) 28 October 2021

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Bélanger was the first former baseball player hired to work for the union, according to MLB.com.