Driven to win: After fast start, Mancini works to do more

He hasn't been in the Orioles lineup since the first inning on Saturday, when he got hit by a pitch on his right index finger. He suffered a painful bruise but luckily for the team, it wasn't worse than that. He should be able to return for today's doubleheader in Chicago.

In Trey Mancini, the Orioles have a homegrown player who provides clubhouse leadership, is great in the community and is driven to succeed.

He's having a fantastic start to his 2019 season. In 28 games and 121 plate appearances, he's batting .355/.405/.618 with 11 doubles, six homers, 14 RBIs and an OPS of 1.023. His OPS-plus is 172, meaning his statistics are 72 percent above league average.

Nothing about Mancini has been average this year. He's hit .412 versus lefty pitching, .407 in road games and .419 in games the Orioles win. Yep, he's been huge.

A natural first baseman, Mancini has worked hard to play well in the outfield. He made two starts in right field - both in 2017 - before this season, but he has had 15 starts out there this year as Dwight Smith Jr. holds down left field.

"I've always taken in pride in defense, and since I switched to the outfield it was a new challenge," Mancini said. "But I feel really comfortable in right and I feel good about how I'm doing out there. If there is something I'd like to improve sometimes, we've been playing relatively deep. So, reading balls in front of me off the bat has probably been the biggest challenge.

"I know there are some advanced metrics and they can reflect some balls that have fallen in front of me that I maybe could have caught. That is something I'm still trying to improve on. Just that first read off the bat. But I've gotten some good jumps on balls hit over my head."

Mancini said right has not been much different than playing left field. And he adds that, "I feel really comfortable, and maybe even more so than I thought I would, to be honest. I'm loving it out there."

Mancini threw some kudos to the coaching staff in a recent interview. He feels they have positioned the defense very well this year.

"We've been doing a good job and I think our positioning has been really good. Infield and outfield, it's been great. Just for example, the other night (last Wednesday in Baltimore), the play that Richie (Martin, at shortstop) made to end the game. I saw Flo (coach José Flores) move him, literally, five seconds before that. Or that game was probably going to the bottom of the ninth. And Arnie Beyeler has been doing a great job with us in the outfield, too. We are very well prepared out there for every game. They have a great plan, and we try to execute it."

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is a clear Trey fan.

"I think he is just scratching the surface of what kind of player he can be," Hyde said. "You are seeing a guy coming into his own offensively. I just love the way he drives the ball to all parts of the ballpark and he's so hard to pitch to. And he's so strong. He's a pro. He comes prepared. Just has a pro at-bat every time."

Speaking of trying to constantly find ways to improve, Mancini said the coaches have worked with him on his baserunning, and he even has made it a goal to steal a few bases this year.

"I want that second career stolen base (he had one in 2017), and it's really something I'm capable of," he said. "I'm trying here and there to take it. Have a feeling one is coming soon.

"I've talked to Arnie a lot about baserunning. He brought me in one day and broke down film of my secondary (lead). And I have never been taught many technical things on baserunning too much. So, the fact he took the time was awesome. I've never been known as an elite baserunner, by any means. But he said, 'You are smart on the base paths. You need to know when to take risks, and there is no reason you can't steal a few bags a year, at least.'

"If you don't have too many stolen bases in your career, some guys may not think about you out there, and you can get a bigger lead and take advantage of them thinking you won't run. I'm trying to learn when to go and add that to my game," Mancini said.

Keys lose no-hitter and the game: In a wild one last night in the Carolina League, Single-A Frederick took a combined no-hitter and 4-0 lead to the ninth. But Wilmington scored five to win 5-4 on one hit. The Keys led 4-3 with two outs and the no-hitter intact, but a two-run double changed that. Wilmington took advantage of four walks, a wild pitch and an error to come back.

But right-handed starter Michael Baumann had quite a game. He threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings with two walks and a career-high 12 strikeouts in getting a no-decision. He came out with his pitch count at 87.

Single-A Delmarva beat Columbia 6-3 to complete an 18-4 April. Winning pitcher Ofelky Peralta allowed one hit in 5 2/3 and is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.89. He has averaged 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Double-A Bowie beat Richmond 6-4 as Alexis Torres hit a two-run homer and Jesmuel Valentin a solo shot. Righty Marcus Molina gave up four runs over 6 2/3 and is 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA.

Triple-A Norfolk topped Durham 9-5 as Chance Sisco, Mason Williams and Anthony Santander all hit two-run homers. Over his past three games, Sisco is 5-for-12 with a homer and six RBIs to raise his average from .188 to .224. Winning pitcher Luis Ortiz allowed one run over five innings.

By the way, it was 52 years ago yesterday that the Orioles pitched a no-hitter and lost. The Tigers beat the Birds 2-1 on April 30, 1967 as Steve Barber and Stu Miller pitched the combined no-no.