From battling stage 3 colon cancer to bagging World Series championship: Story of Trey Mancini's triumphant return to MLB

For Chicago Cubs utility man Trey Mancini, having the ability to suit up for his team every day is something he feels eternally grateful for. It was not too long ago that Mancini was faced with the news that threw not only his career but also his life, into profound doubt.

Mancini was born in 1992 into the Mancini Foods empire. His great grandfather, an Italian immigrant, founded the company over 100 years ago. Today, his family is still involved in the day-to-day operations.

After a successful high school career, Trey Mancini committed to Notre Dame to play baseball. In 2013, he was selected in the eighth round of the draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

In 2017, his first full season in MLB, Mancini hit .293/.338/.488 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs. In 2017, he finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Andrew Benintendi and Aaron Judge, the eventual winner of the distinction.

In 2019, Trey Mancini put up his best offensive year yet with the Orioles. Splitting his time between the outfield and first base, Mancini hit .291/.364/.535 with 35 home runs and 97 RBIs, recording an OPS of .899 and registering 106 runs. While Mancini's career looked to be finally taking off, he soon received news that nobody ever wants to hear.

In March 2020, as the world reeled from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mancini announced that doctors had found a malignant tumor in his colon. The O's star began chemotherapy, and his team adopted the "F16HT" campaign to support Mancini, using his number in the clever moniker.

"Finally got my Mancini #F16HT shirt" - Cip Woytowitz

After undergoing surgery in June, Mancini revealed that he was cancer-free in November 2020. The next year, he married MASN broadcaster Sara Perlman and honeymooned in Europe after hitting 21 home runs and registering a .255 average in his first season back in the Baltimore Orioles' lineup.

Midway through the 2022 season, Mancini was traded to the Houston Astros. Although he only appeared in 51 regular-season contests for his new team, he came up big in the playoffs.

Astros fans may never forget his game-saving snag at first base in Game 5 of the 2022 World Series, which saw the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies.

"Game 5 of the World Series, Trey Mancini saves the inning with a nice stop on a Kyle Schwarber bullet." - Chief Cub

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Trey Mancini's traumatic past undoubtedly gives him extra appreciation

Every player in MLB is incredibly lucky to be able to make millions playing a game they love. However, in the case of Mancini, he can say that he beat a life-threatening illness to do so.

His win in the 2022 World Series was the apotheosis of years of struggle. Now with the Chicago Cubs, a team with postseason aspirations, Mancini could do it all again.