Trey Mancini’s time with the Houston Astros was brief, and much of it didn’t go the way anyone hoped. But when Houston needed him most, he made a play that helped preserve a World Series championship.
Mancini officially announced his retirement Tuesday, ending an eight-year Major League career that included six seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, a remarkable return from colon cancer, and a World Series ring with the Astros.
“What a great human being,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before Tuesday’s game against the Angels. “Super happy for him. He had a successful career. Helped us win a World Series, so he’s part of our family.”
Houston acquired Mancini from Baltimore at the 2022 trade deadline, hoping the veteran first baseman and outfielder would add another bat for the stretch run. It never quite happened.
Mancini hit .176 with eight home runs in 51 regular-season games for the Astros, then began the postseason 0-for-18 and saw little playing time.
Then came Game 5 of the World Series.
The Astros led the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 in the eighth inning when Yuli Gurriel was injured, forcing Mancini into the game at first base. He hadn’t played in the field since the end of the regular season.
With two outs and a runner at third, Kyle Schwarber ripped a hard ground ball down the first-base line. Mancini knocked it down, dropped to a knee, and managed to touch the bag with his foot for the final out.
Had the ball gotten past him, the tying run could have scored.
“I had nothing going through my head, I just tackled it, basically,” Mancini said after the game.
There was another wrinkle to the play. Espada, then Houston’s bench coach, had instructed Mancini to position himself close to the first-base bag.
The Astros held on for the 3-2 victory, taking a 3-2 lead in the series. Two nights later, they beat Philadelphia at Minute Maid Park to win the franchise’s second World Series championship. Mancini started the clinching Game 6 in place of Gurriel and collected his first hit of the postseason.
His path to Houston had already made Mancini one of baseball’s more admired players.
A longtime favorite in Baltimore, Mancini missed the entire 2020 season after being diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy before returning to the Orioles in 2021, playing 147 games and hitting 21 home runs.
After leaving Houston, Mancini signed with the Chicago Cubs for 2023. He spent the next two seasons trying to work his way back to the Majors before getting one final opportunity with the Angels this season. He went 4-for-13 after being called up in June before Los Angeles released him.
Now 34, Mancini leaves baseball with 129 career home runs, a World Series championship, and a career that will be remembered for far more than statistics.
For Astros fans, his Houston chapter may ultimately come down to one inning, one ground ball, and one play at first base.
It was a short stay.
It was one very big moment.
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