In 2021, Cedric Mullins was a star participant on a completely horrible group. The Baltimore Orioles misplaced an astounding 110 video games that season, but Mullins was a respectable All-Star, a Silver Slugger award winner and completed ninth within the MVP voting. At 26 years previous, it seemed like Mullins was going to be a star for years to come back and a centerpiece round which the Orioles might construct.
This season, the Orioles are arguably the most effective group within the American League, after having the most effective document within the league in 2023. You’d suppose Mullins could be on the forefront of that success, piling up accolades because the group marches towards the playoffs once more. Alas, that is not the case.
On a group crammed with terrific offensive gamers like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg, Mullins has light into the background. The Orioles even have above common complimentary gamers like Ryan Mountcastle and Anthony Santander. Sadly, Mullins is not even considered one of these gamers proper now.
Mullins’ offensive numbers have been trending downward since that pinnacle 2021 season. His slash that 12 months was a powerful .291/.360/.518/.878. He had 30 residence runs, 37 doubles and 30 stolen bases for that terrible group. His numbers have slipped ever since.
This season has been a nightmare for Mullins. His slash is .183/.234/.349 for an OPS of .583. That OPS quantity is manner off the .878 he posted in 2021. He does have six homers and 6 stolen bases, however just one homer since April 17. It’s has gotten so unhealthy that Mullins has been betting eighth or ninth within the batting order.
Sure, there was some unhealthy luck concerned as he solely has a .198 Batting Common on Balls in Play. The league common is round .300. A few of that is brought on by a really excessive fly ball fee (47.8 %) and a really low line drive fee (14.1 %). Principally, he’s making an entire lot of lazy outs within the air.
His strikeout fee is the best it is ever been in his profession (26.1 %) and his stroll fee is the bottom it has been for the reason that COVID-shortened 2020 season (5.8). These aren’t promising traits for his downward- spiraling profession.
It is trying increasingly like 2021 was a profession 12 months moderately than a harbinger of issues to come back. His BABIP will possible enhance as this season progresses because the luck a part of the batted balls will begin to even out considerably, and that may deliver his common up as nicely. That mentioned, there is not something on this season’s stats, or in these of the previous two seasons, that point out Mullins will ever return to being the general hitter he was in 2021.
He solely had 115 complete video games within the three seasons previous to 2021 and there wasn’t a lot there to foretell a breakout season, which is additional indication that Mullins is a good participant that had one unbelievable season which will have skewed expectations.
At 29 years previous, he’s on the finish of his prime. Few gamers flip their profession round and enhance considerably heading into their thirties. He can nonetheless be a serviceable veteran piece on an impressive group, and that may most likely be how he provides worth to this Orioles juggernaut at this level.
