Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins Reaches Historic Milestone

Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Cedric Mullins joined elite company on Sunday

In the first inning of Sunday’s 9-6 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Cedric Mullins launched a ball down the right field line that kept fair and gave the O’s an early 1-0 lead. The home run was Mullins’ 20th of the year, making him a part of the 20 home runs/20 stolen bases club for the first time in his young career.

So far this season, Cedric Mullins is the only American League hitter to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases. Across Major League Baseball, Mullins’ only peer in the 20-20 club is San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who has 31 home runs and 23 stolen bases on the season.

Besides Mullins, only six players in Baltimore Orioles history have reached the 20-20 club, including just two since the turn of the century. According to a tweet from The Baltimore Sun’s Nathan Ruiz, the feat was achieved by Mullins in 108 games, the second-fastest mark by any player in franchise history. Reggie Jackson remains the fastest Orioles hitter to 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, doing so in 104 games in 1976.

A part of the process that cannot go unmentioned when examining this breakout season from Mullins is the decision he made during Spring Training to abandon switch-hitting and take his at-bats entirely from the left side. The adjustment has transformed Mullins into one of Major League Baseball’s premier players. Entering play on Sunday, Mullins is fourth in fWAR across MLB, leading all outfielders.

Now a little over a week into August, the Orioles’ schedule has 52 games remaining. With that much of the season left to play, Mullins is well within reach of a 25-25 campaign, possibly 30-30 if he were to go on a tear down the stretch.

Regardless of whether or not he continues to shred the record books, Cedric Mullins’ 2021 season has been a joy to watch.