O's game blog: Mancini, Drake and Givens take top honors, plus Machado on playing 162

The Orioles announced that first baseman Trey Mancini is their minor league Player of the Year and that Oliver Drake and Mychal Givens are co-Pitchers of the Year today.

The Orioles also announced that Double-A Bowie outfielder Glynn Davis has been named this year's recipient of the Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award. Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson has been named the winner of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award, presented to a minor league staff member who exemplifies the qualities of the late Oriole who is regarded as the architect of "The Oriole Way".

International scout Ernst Meyer and area scout Rich Morales will receive Jim Russo Scout of the Year Awards, named in honor of the man who spent 33 years in various scouting capacities with the Orioles.

The winners will be honored in an on-field ceremony before Friday's game against the Yankees, with awards presented by Orioles director of minor league operations Kent Qualls and director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Also that night, the Orioles will recognize the 2015 Eastern League Champion Bowie Baysox managed by Gary Kendall. Baysox general manager Bria Shallcross and assistant general manager Phil Wrye will present the championship trophy to members of the team.

Mancini, the Brooks Robinson minor league Player of the Year, hit a combined .341/.375/.563 with 43 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs, and 89 RBIs in 136 games between Bowie and Single-A Frederick. He led all Orioles minor leaguers in batting average (.341), home runs (21) and RBIs (89), and won the Eastern League batting title with an adjusted .330 batting average.

Drake, the co-Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year, went 1-2 with a 0.82 ERA and was 23-for-23 in save opportunities over 42 games with Norfolk, ranking second in saves and tied for fourth in games finished among International League pitchers. Drake led all Orioles minor leaguers in saves and logged a 26-game scoreless streak from April 27-August 6 with the Tides. He was also named an International League midseason and postseason All-Star and was rated by Baseball America as the best reliever in the International League.

Givens, also the co-Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year, went 4-2 with a 1.73 ERA and 15 saves in 35 games with Bowie. He was named to Baseball America's minor league All-Prospect midseason team and minor league first team, and was rated by the publication as the best reliever in the Eastern League. Givens was named the organizational Pitcher of the Month in April after going 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA (12.2 inning pitched, one earned run) and two saves, while striking out 19 over seven games before being selected as an Eastern League midseason All-Star.

Davis displayed outstanding dedication to the community while spending his season with the Baysox. Davis made numerous appearances throughout the community including medical centers, youth baseball camps and hitting and fielding clinics as part of his outreach efforts

Johnson earned the award due to his success in player development, including being named International League Manager of the Year, producing four International League midseason All-Stars and two postseason All-Stars, and guiding the Tides to their first division title since 2005.

Meyer has been an Orioles scout for 21 years. He has recommended and signed more than 15 players from Curacao for the Orioles, including Jonathan Schoop. Morales has been an Orioles scout for 10 drafts, having started with the organization in 2006. His draft signings include catcher Caleb Joseph.

Additionally, Delmarva athletic trainer Trek Schuler, Bowie head groundskeeper Matt Parrott and Frederick Keys head groundskeeper Mike Soper will be honored for winning the 2015 South Atlantic League Trainer of the Year Award, Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year Award, and Carolina League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year Award, respectively.

As for today's game against Toronto, when Manny Machado takes the field, he will play in his 159th straight game this year. He is the current MLB leader in consecutive games played. He has not missed one and he wants to play all 162 this year.

"I mean it is just something I've set my goals since Day 1, I wanted to come out here and play every game," Machado said. "If I'm healthy, I'm going to go out there and play. I want to go out and play and see what I can do. You know 162 is a big goal for everyone. If I'm so close, finish it now. Why take a day off now at the end? Just enjoy it. Never know what happens next year."

Does it give Machado a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment to play every game?

"I mean, I guess you could say that in a way. I'm just taking it as my personal goal. I want to play every game that I can and that is what I'll keep doing," he said. "Hopefully I don't get hurt within these next couple of days. I'll go out there and try to help my team win, like I've been doing."

On the mound this afternoon to wrap up this four-game series, Tyler Wilson (2-2, 3.60 ERA) pitches against Toronto right-hander Drew Hutchison (13-4, 5.33 ERA).