Mancini delivers on Derby promise to coach

This browser does not support the video element.

Trey Mancini made a promise to Chuck Ristano: If Mancini ever made the Home Run Derby in the Majors, Ristano would be his pitcher.

When that conversation unfolded, Mancini, then a sophomore at Notre Dame, had just won the 2012 Big East Home Run Derby alongside Ristano, the team¡¯s pitching coach who served up the meatballs. Mancini had confidence that he would make the Majors. Ristano did, too.

But the Derby? That was an entirely different proposition.

? HR Derby Challenge: Compete to win $100K

Come Monday night, Mancini will step into the batter¡¯s box. Ristano will position himself behind the L-screen on a raised mound, about 40 feet away. Two friends will share the national stage. A promise will be fulfilled.

? T-Mobile Home Run Derby: July 12 on ESPN

¡°I still can¡¯t believe it,¡± Mancini said.

Ristano recalled being in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on a recruiting trip when he received a call from Mancini. The two stayed connected through the years, primarily through text messages. A call struck Ristano as odd.

Upon exchanging pleasantries, Mancini prefaced that what he was about to tell Ristano was not yet public news. To Ristano, the ensuing split second before Mancini¡¯s next words felt like a lifetime.

Ristano knew what Mancini had gone through; that Mancini had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer; that he went through six months of chemotherapy; that Mancini had not only overcome the deadly disease, but that he made his way back onto the field.

But Ristano also knew of another tragedy that had occurred in the not-too-distant past. On Oct. 17, 2020, Ricky Palmer, a former Notre Dame teammate and close friend of Mancini¡¯s, passed away from brain cancer. Ristano, who gave the eulogy, recalled that everything occurred quickly, without warning.

¡°He was one of the hardest workers, if not the hardest worker I¡¯ve ever played with,¡± Mancini said. ¡°He led by example. He was a confident guy, but he¡¯s the most loyal friend I¡¯ve ever had. He believed in all his friends and cared so much for all his friends.¡±

These were some of the thoughts that ran through Ristnao¡¯s mind when Mancini said, ¡°This isn¡¯t public yet.¡±

But Ristano could soon exhale -- at least for a moment.

Mancini told Ristano that he had been picked for the Home Run Derby, and he wanted his old pitching coach to serve up batting practice one more time. He wanted to keep his promise.

This browser does not support the video element.

In the years following Mancini getting drafted in 2013, the two periodically mentioned the idea. They talked about it after Mancini was drafted. They talked about it as Mancini tore through the Minor Leagues. They talked about it after he made the Major Leagues. But now, this was no longer just talk.

The moment was ¡°a shockwave of excitement and emotions¡± for Ristano. He told Mancini that he¡¯d have to ask both his boss and wife if he could make the trip, knowing that they¡¯d be on board. Ristano needed the entirety of his plane ride to calm down, but by the time he landed, word had gotten out of Mancini¡¯s participation, lifting the pressure of secrecy off Ristano¡¯s shoulders.

¡°I am so honored, blessed that Trey thought enough about a conversation we had nine years ago to include me,¡± Ristano said. ¡°It means the world to me.¡±

? 2021 Home Run Derby FAQ

Mancini¡¯s selection of Ristano was all the easier given that the two have on-field chemistry. Along with the Big East Home Run Derby, Ristano, a southpaw, constantly threw batting practice to prepare the Fighting Irish for left-handed pitching. To Mancini, Ristano was always adept at putting pitches where he wanted, which helped if Mancini wanted to work on hitting pitches in a certain part of the zone.

¡°I don¡¯t really know what that says about my job performance as a pitching coach to be so adept at getting up balls that go over the fence,¡± Ristano said with a laugh.

On the surface, the story of Mancini competing in the Home Run Derby with Ristano throwing is about a player and coach. Yet neither talk about one another through the lens of the player-coach dynamic. They speak of one another as friends, their three shared seasons at Notre Dame being the backdrop that allowed their relationship to unfold.

Mancini recalls immediately connecting with Ristano the moment he stepped on campus. Perhaps it was the fact that Mancini was a position player and Ristano was the pitching coach, meaning the latter wasn¡¯t presiding over the former. Regardless, Mancini says the two have always been close.

One of Ristano¡¯s favorite non-baseball memories of Mancini came shortly after he was drafted. Ristano¡¯s wedding was set to take place on Nov. 1, 2014, with the rehearsal dinner falling on Halloween.

Mancini recalled that the bars in South Bend had a Halloween theme and those who dressed appropriately received free cover, ¡°which was a big deal at the time,¡± Mancini said. Mancini didn¡¯t have an elaborate costume on hand, so he and a friend threw on onesies with a bib. Mancini didn¡¯t have time to change as he made his way from the bars to the event. As Ristano recalled, Mancini attempted to conceal his costume.

¡°Trey wouldn¡¯t take his jacket off,¡± Ristano recalled. ¡°[I said], ¡®Come on, take your jacket off.¡¯ He opens his jacket and he was dressed like a Smurf.¡±

Come Monday evening, Mancini, as well as Ristano, will be dressed for a different occasion.

When Mancini won the Big East Home Run Derby in 2013, there were only a few hundred people in attendance. Coors Field, however, will be an entirely different monster. Ristano admitted that he¡¯s nervous, but hopeful that his reunion with Mancini will quell any nerves.

¡°Trey is a performer,¡± Ristano said. ¡°I'm just hoping that I can do my part, and if I do, I know Trey will do unbelievable.¡±

While the spotlight will fall on Mancini and Ristano come Monday -- Ristano said he¡¯d love to be invisible -- the moment won¡¯t solely be about them.

The last time Mancini and Ristano have seen one another in-person was Palmer¡¯s funeral. Ristano described the moment as sobering. When the two reunite and take the field on Monday, fulfilling a promise made nearly a decade prior, they¡¯ll be doing so in memory of Palmer.

¡°Having lost Ricky was gutting for all of us, but watching Trey step up to the plate, not only with his own story, but to support Ricky¡¯s, has been great,¡± Ristano said.

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com