The MLB Home Run Derby got off to a thrilling start. Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles and Matt Olson of the Oakland Athletics were the first two batters to face off, and Mancini edged out Olson by one home run.
What a first-round matchup. Trey Mancini beats Matt Olson, 24-23, with Olson's final swing curling just foul!
But Olson pumped 3 HRs into the upper deck in RF, prompting the ooh-aah fest of the night.
Great Derby theater.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 13, 2021
It wasn't Shohei Ohtani, but the two American League sluggers were phenomenal. Mancini is the story of the season after he beat cancer and made a miraculous return to the Orioles and has given everybody an example of perseverance.
Mancini started the Home Run Derby off struggling big-time but called a timeout and from then on the rest was history.
Trey Mancini – what a story.
Made 5 straight outs. Called a time out. Then pumped 17 in the next 2 minutes. Amazing.— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 13, 2021
He was mashing them, and to be fair, so was Olson, who lost by mere feet as his last one went foul into the Coors Field right-field stands. Right before that, one of Olson's home runs sent a fan flying chasing after the ball.
This fan was putting it all on the line as Matt Olson went deep at the Home Run Derby. He's OK, per @jjcoop36.https://t.co/8IOunDXkHq
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) July 13, 2021
But, it's fitting to see Mancini win the first round. After his cancer battle, they weren't sure if he would return to baseball– let alone make the trip to the Home Run Derby.
In case you missed it, here are the last few from Mancini, and Olson's face says it all.
Trey Mancini wins his matchup with Matt Olson in the derby's first upset
Mancini +155 💰pic.twitter.com/Dx3QlulPef
— ClutchPoints Betting (@CPBetting) July 13, 2021
Don't worry, there will be plenty more with the Home Run Derby in Coors Field, of all places.