Trey Mancini named team MVP for playoff-bound Aberdeen

First baseman Trey Mancini has been named the Most Valuable Player for the playoff-bound short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds. The Orioles' eighth-round pick in June out of Notre Dame, Mancini has hit .324 with 18 doubles, two triples, three homers and 35 RBIs in 67 games for Aberdeen. He has a .447 slugging percentage and .826 OPS. "Trey has been our most consistent bat in the lineup and his presence at first base has really solidified our infield," IronBirds manager Matt Merullo said. "It has been a real pleasure to watch him grow this season, as he has helped lead our team to a division title and a playoff berth." Mancini is third in the New York-Penn League in batting average, second in hits and third in runs. His 82 hits are one off the Aberdeen club record going into tonight's regular season finale, and he is likely to finish with the best batting average in the club's 12-year history. Mancini talked about his strong first pro season in this interview. Aberdeen will host Tri-City in Game 1 of a best-of-three playoff series that begins Friday night at Ripken Stadium. Should Aberdeen win that series, the IronBirds advance to the championship series. Merullo set his playoff rotation yesterday. Right-hander Sebastian Vader (7-3, 2.43 ERA) will start the first game with O's top pick Hunter Harvey (0-1, 2.25 ERA) pitching Game 2 on Saturday and Steven Brault (1-2, 2.09 ERA) pitching Game 3, if necessary, on Sunday.