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Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins providing hope during long rebuild

By Steven Kubitza|
Jun 1, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins (31) runs to third after hitting a triple during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins (31) runs to third after hitting a triple during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Orioles fans have something to smile about in 2021 thanks to outfielder Cedric Mullins.

The Baltimore Orioles enter the week in the basement of the American League East division. But Cedric Mullins is one major reason why fans in Maryland will continue to tune in for the remainder of the season.

Mullins had himself a weekend as the Cleveland Indians rolled into town. Indians fans likely assumed an easy series victory was in store. Instead, the Orioles took two of three and Mullins could not stop hitting.

Cedric Mullins providing hope in a long rebuild

The Orioles last went to the postseason in 2016. They have not actually won a playoff game since 2014 and ended up losing 115 games in 2018. There was a slight improvement with only 108 losses in 2019 before a shortened 2020 season prevented another hideous record.

The goal remains to win without spending too much money. That is why fans have to be thrilled about Mullins, who doesn’t even hit arbitration until 2023.

Mullins finished the weekend with three home runs, four RBI, and nine total hits. His batting average shot up from .298 to .322 and his OPS is all the way up to .923. That is not bad for a player who entered 2021 never playing more than 48 games in any single season.

FanGraphs has his WAR at 2.8, which is good enough to be tied for third among all MLB batters. MLB fans may be shocked when seeing an Orioles player rank so high on that leaderboard.

The sky is truly the limit for Mullins and being on a rebuilding Orioles team should work to his advantage. He is getting everyday work after being used sparingly since his debut in 2018. Playing time may have been all he needed and he now looks like a lock for the All-Star Game this summer. John Means should be another lock, but he is dealing with an injury at the moment.

It is the first week of June and the Orioles are already 16 games out of first place at 21-38. Mullins morphing into an All-Star may ultimately show the front office they have some real talent to finally build around as this rebuild drags on.

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