BALTIMORE–What happened? Cedric Mullins has been an Oriole longer than anyone else on the current roster, and it’s possible he’s entering his final days with the team.
As a free agent after this season, several teams could be interested in the 30-year-old centerfielder ahead of Thursday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline.
The 20,188 fans who attended Saturday night’s 18-0 Orioles pounding of the Colorado Rockies at Camden Yards saw an exciting version of the player who hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in 2021, the only Oriole to do that in the same season.
Mullins became the third player in Orioles history to hit 100 home runs and steal 100 bases with his three-run home run in the fourth inning. He joins Brady Anderson and Paul Blair.
He also caught six fly balls in center, including a running, diving catch of Orlando Arcia’s drive to left-center field in the third.
“It was the best catch I’ve ever seen,” Oriole starter Trevor Rogers said. “I still have no words for you. It was unbelievable. I mean, just his night in general, 100 home runs with this club and what he means to this organization and this city. My hat’s off to him. Great teammate, great person.”
Mullins’ infield tapper scored a run in the sixth inning when reliever Ryan Rollison throw wildly to first, allowing Colton Cowser to come home. Jacob Stallings, who was released by the Rockies last month, tapped back to Rollison, who threw it far over first, allowing Tyler O’Neill to score.
Rogers, who was obtained at the trade deadline last year, continued his sharp starts, allowing only one hit in seven innings. Thairo Estrada singled with one out in the second.
Rogers (4-1) retired 14 straight until Ezequiel Tovar walked on the 13th pitch of his at-bat leading off the seventh. Hunter Goodman hit into a double play and Jordan Beck flied to Mullins to end Rogers’ night. He struck out five.
Ryan O’Hearn’s single against Antonio Senzatela (4-14) gave the Orioles (46-58) their first run in the first. O’Neill’s second home run of the series in the second made it 3-0, and Mullins’ homer expanded the lead to 6-0, and the two errors put the Orioles ahead by eight runs after six.
The Orioles scored nine runs in the seventh inning, and Alex Jackson’s home run in the eighth allowed them to record the largest shutout win in team history, their fourth shutout of the season.
How good was Mullins’ catch? Mullins has made so many outstanding catches in his career, helping appreciative pitchers who have been amazed by his play
Rogers had his doubts Mullins was going to make the catch. He was playing toward right-center but got an excellent jump on the ball and caught it with a full-out dive.
“I didn’t think so. And then, everyone went berserk,” Rogers said. “I thought there was no chance he got that ball, and he got it. So that’s kind of why my reaction was shocked. It was just unbelievable. Best catch I’ve ever seen.”
On April 15th, 2024, Mullins made a similar catch on Kyle Farmer, who was playing for Minnesota that day, and was the designated hitter and the eighth inning pitcher for Colorado on Saturday night. Cole Irvin was the grateful pitcher that day.
“Looking at the video, it’s so similar to the play last year,” Mullins said. “Yeah, yeah. Just one of those things, it’s like, OK, well, which one do you put above the other? I said I personally put the one last year above that one, just based off of how it felt. I almost want to hear someone else’s rankings at this point. So, it was awesome.”
How does Mullins feel about Baltimore? Mullins is the senior Oriole. He first played with the team on August 10th, 2018, and said he’s not thinking about going anywhere else this week.
“I don’t know if it’s quite hit me that way yet,” he said. “I think I’m still focused on the day to day, trying to improve my game every single day, battling through some struggle. Just moving forward. So, I don’t think it’s gotten to that point.”
Even as Mullins has struggled offensively, Oriole fans still appreciate him, and it’s reciprocated.
“I’d say very connected. Baltimore has taken my family in since the beginning,” he said. “I got drafted by Baltimore and just one of those things where you just feel welcome. The engagement that I have with the fans over the course of the years has been nothing short of awesome. It’s just been fun, really fun being here.”
What does it mean? Even though the Orioles won by 18 runs, Mullins and Rogers were the storylines.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles set a franchise record with 12 different players scoring a run.
What’s the word? “We’re proud of Cedric for everything he’s done. He’s had some great moments here throughout his career. Some of the playoff stuff last year was awesome. Cedric is a guy that we love internally, and I feel like externally he’s loved, as well, by the fans. Yeah, I am happy for him.”-Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Ryan Mountcastle was 1-for-3 and Adley Rutschman caught and was hitless in four at-bats in their rehab assignments in Triple-A Norfolk’s 7-1 loss to Lehigh Valley.
Keegan Akin recorded two outs in his rehab assignment.
Nestor German allowed two runs on four hits and struck out 10 in six innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 6-1 loss to Altoona in a game ended after 7 ½ innings by rain.
High-A Aberdeen was 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in its 5-4 loss to Winston-Salem in 10 innings.
Chase Allsup allowed Lynchburg’s only hit in five scoreless innings in Single-A Delmarva’s 6-0 win.
The Orioles signed right-handed pitcher José Espada to a minor league contract. Espada pitched in one game for San Diego in 2023.
They’ve signed four additional draft choices — left-handed pitcher Holden de Jong (11th round), second baseman Brayden Smith (13th round), right-hander KK Clark (15th round), and left-hander Braden Smith (17th round). The Orioles have signed 18 of their 24 draft picks. The highest unsigned pick is right-hander Daniel Ortiz, chosen in the 12th round.
Draft picks must be signed by 5 p.m. on Monday.
What’s next? Tomoyuki Sugano (7-5, 4.54) will face Austin Gomber (0-4, 6.03) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com