The Mancini decision: Has he graduated from the minors?

Among many questions the Orioles have to answer once spring training starts is just where first baseman Trey Mancini will be on opening day. Is he going to make the roster or head back to the minors again to start 2017?

Until the Orioles re-signed Mark Trumbo, both vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter expressed plenty of confidence in Mancini, and it looked like he could be the everyday designated hitter this season. But Trumbo's return likely changes that equation.

So would the O's carry Mancini on the roster even if he only starts as the DH against left-handed pitching? Would it be more of a benefit to have him getting everyday at-bats on the farm?

In one respect, Mancini has probably reached the point of his career where he has done about all you can do on the farm. He's played at every level between short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Triple-A Norfolk. He had 389 at-bats at Double-A Bowie and 483 with Norfolk.

If you compare Mancini's time on the farm to two other young Orioles starters - Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop - he has had more at-bats than either and more success, as well:

Machado: 832 at-bats hitting .269/.349/.442
Schoop: 1,800 at-bats hitting .268/.334/.412
Mancini: 1,878 at-bats hitting .306/.357/.472

Perhaps further making the case that Mancini's time on the farm should be about over is that he didn't start his pro career until he already had three seasons under his belt at Notre Dame. The Orioles drafted him in the eighth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. He played his first pro season that summer at 21. Schoop's first pro year was at 17 in 2009 and Machado's first pro season was at 17 in 2010. Mancini had three years of college ball under his belt before he played one game in the minors.

With young players, you often hear scouts say that power is the last thing to come for hitters. Machado and Schoop provide evidence of that. Machado never hit more than 11 homers in a minor league season. The last two years he has hit 35 and 37 in the majors. His OPS at Double-A Bowie in 2012 was .789. The last two years his OPS has been .861 and .876. Schoop's minor league home run high was 14. He hit 25 for the Orioles in 2016.

At-bats per homer in the minors:
Machado hit one every 36.2 at-bats
Schoop hit one every 36.0 at-bats
Mancini hit one every 34.8 at-bats

So while no one expects Mancini to bash homers and look like Babe Ruth as he did in September, maybe more power is still to come for the 24-year-old right-handed hitter. That is how it played out for both Machado and Schoop.

Heading into last year, it looked like Mancini's path to the majors might have been blocked when the Orioles re-signed first baseman Chris Davis. But Mancini still found his way to Baltimore. Now Trumbo could be entrenched as the DH. Will Mancini still make it to Baltimore despite that?

Draft picks and bonus slots: In this article, Baseball America details projected bonus slots for the 2017 draft in June. The Orioles' first pick is No. 21 overall and they also have picks at Nos. 60, 74 and 98 in the top 100. The projected slot amount to sign the No. 21 selection is $2.75 million and the Orioles' total bonus pool is $6.583 million.

MASN at FanFest: MASN is giving fans opportunities to win exclusive prizes and meet Orioles players and on-air talent at its booth throughout Orioles FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 28, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (10 a.m. for season ticket holders).

Fans will be able to participate in "Social Snapshots" photo ops with Adam Jones, Davis, Zach Britton, Ryan Flaherty, former Oriole Mike Bordick, Hall of Famer Jim Palmer and MASN broadcaster Jim Hunter (appearances subject to change). This year, fans will be able to have their photo printed on-site for free, with a digital copy also sent via text for sharing on social media.

Fans who stop by the MASN booth will also be able to participate in various games and giveaway opportunities. At MASN's exclusive claw machine game, fans can try to win suite tickets, autographed gear, Orioles souvenirs and more.

No fan will leave the MASN booth empty-handed. Fans can also enter to win signed jerseys, bats and baseballs from Orioles manager Buck Showalter, and All-Stars Jones, Davis, Britton and Darren O'Day. Other prizes include new #IBackTheBirds knit winter hats, MASN Orioles keychains, car stickers, iWallets and koozies.

MASN is again working with the Orioles to host the Kids Press Conferences, where young Orioles fans can ask their favorite players questions. I'll be hosting two of these press conferences and they are a real highlight of a great day.

Fans attending Orioles FanFest should follow @masnOrioles on Twitter and RSVP to the MASN Orioles Facebook event for more prize previews and the Social Snapshots schedule release.

Click here to see the FanFest floor plan and much more information.