Mancini disappointed by All-Star Game snub; Orioles shuffle rotation

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida—Trey Mancini acknowledged that he was disappointed that he didn’t make the American League All-Star team, but he was happy that teammate John Means will represent the Orioles.

“It was a tough day yesterday,” Mancini said. “But first I just want to say that John 100 percent deserves it. He’s been unbelievable for us this year. For him to think he was going to be one of the first cuts in spring training this year and then to make the All-Star team, it’s incredible. And he’s been lights out for us this year. He’s been a godsend for us and he 100 percent deserves it.

“I do wish I was going with him. Yesterday was a really hard day for me. I’m not going to lie. But kind of got myself together before the game and went out there and it was actually kind of a nice distraction for three hours. But, yeah, I think I deserve to be going and there’s nothing you can really do about it now. But it was tough.”

Mancini entered Monday’s game at Tampa Bay with a .302 average, 17 home runs and 40 RBIs.

“I let myself be sad yesterday and I woke up today with my head high and this team needs me to be who I am and that’s what I’m going to do. So, I’m going to keep trying to play well and be there for my team and that’s all that you can really do. This doesn’t really change anything. I’m still proud of how far I’ve come the last year compared to last All-Star break to this one. But, yeah, it definitely stings a little but there are some incredible players who got left off. You can go through a laundry list of names. It’s just tough, that’s the way it goes sometimes. Things aren’t fair and don’t always go your way.”

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde thought Mancini deserved to be included.

“He called me into the office and just said he was really upset and disappointed that I didn’t get chosen,” Mancini  said. “The way that the roster works and shook out, they had so many worthy players that I didn’t make the cut. That’s kind of unfortunate how it is. We’re a last-place team right now, and you’re likely to get only one guy on the team in that situation. I know how that works and how that goes, but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t sting a little bit, still.”

Mancini’s family was disappointed, and he tried to deal with the snub.

“I went through the five stages of grief, honestly,” Mancini said. “It was a full day. I can’t name all five off the top of my head. I know sadness. I know anger. That’s a couple of them, I think. I can tell you I went through the full five. It was a full day, probably the most emotional day I’ve had in a very long … I’m really not that emotional of a person.

“I felt every emotion in the book, and I had some thankfulness, too, just for all the support I got from my teammates, from my family, my friends. So many people reached out, and that means the world to me, too. I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many great people, and it definitely helped me get … it helped make yesterday a little less bad.”

Rotation shuffle: Dylan Bundy, who was set to start Tuesday, will pitch at Toronto on Friday instead.

Asher Wojciechowski, who was acquired from Cleveland on Monday for cash considerations, was in the Orioles’ clubhouse before the game and will start on Tuesday. He’s on the taxi squad.

“He’s the possible/probable tomorrow, but we’ll see,” Hyde said before the game. After the game, he said Wojciechowski will start, although he acknowledged he’s still working on the pronunciation of his name.

Hyde said that he’d like Bundy to start the first game after the All-Star break on July 12.

“He feels fine. There’s nothing except pushing him back a couple of days so that we can set our rotation following the All-Star break.”

Means will pitch Wednesday. If he pitches in the All-Star Game on July 9, the Orioles want him to pitch on four days’ rest after the break.

“You hope that he pitches in the [All-Star] Game, but you just don’t know,” Hyde said. “I’ve been in the All-Star Game, and I know what that four days feels like. I don’t want to pitch him the day after [the season resumes.] It’s too much.”

Tom Eshelman started for the Orioles on Monday. His contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk earlier in the day. In order to make room for Eshelman on the 40-man roster, the Orioles transferred Josh Rogers from the 10-day to 60-day injured list.

Eshelman was acquired from Philadelphia on June 10 in exchange for international bonus money.

Wojciechowski, a 30-year-old right-hander, compiled a 4-4 record and 6.64 ERA in 30 games with Houston and Cincinnati in 2015 and 2017.

He was with the Orioles in spring training last season and went 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA with Norfolk before opting out on July 18 and signing with the Chicago White Sox.

Wojciechowski was 8-2 with a 3.61 ERA with Triple-A Columbus this season.

Hyde on Tyler Skaggs: Hyde didn’t know Tyler Skaggs, the pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who died Monday in Texas, but was shaken by the news.

“Our heart goes out to his family, his wife, the Angels’ organization,” Hyde said. “I feel terrible for everybody involved.

Skaggs pitched for seven seasons with the Angels and Arizona.

“It’s a small fraternity of guys that care about each other,” Hyde said. “We compete three hours every day, but when something like this happens, it affects everybody.”

Skaggs was 27. Tuesday’s game between the Angels and Texas Rangers was postponed.