Orioles' veteran outfielder begins season strong following disappointing spring

Cedric Mullins dragged through spring training with a .136 batting average and one home run in the Grapefruit League. Thankfully, he shook it off as the regular season opened up blasting two home runs on Opening Day alone.

Mullins is entering the season as the longest-tenured Oriole, after a season where he hit his highest home run total since his All-Star season in 2021, when he totaled 30 home runs. With the expectation of continuing his success, Mullins disappointed during the spring, and with young talent creeping up the ranks of the minor leagues and on the Orioles bench, Mullins needed to begin the season strong.

Heston Kjerstad is the most eminent threat to Mullins' starting job as the talented outfielder has "earned the right to get a lot of at-bats" according to Orioles' General Manager, Mike Elias. Kjerstad did not have the most eye-catching spring training for the Orioles this year either, but if Mullins was to continue his struggles manager Brandon Hyde could slide Colton Cowser to centerfield placing Kjerstad in the lineup.

Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins off to a much-needed hot start in 2025

If Mullins is to continue to find his way with the bat there is little reason to move the veteran out of the starting role, as he began to show flashes in the first three games of the season. Mullins would consistently climb the lineup card over the first three days of the season. While his peak is unlikely to be in the one or two spot in the lineup, if Mullins continues to hit well it will keep him in the lineup for the majority of the season.

As the Orioles smashed six home runs on Opening Day including the pair off the bat of Mullins, the pressure on Mullins seemingly lifted with each ball that left the yard on Thursday. On the heels of his Opening Day performance, Mullins was held hitless in the contest on Friday night he was able to work a walk in his final plate appearance of the game.

When the Orioles took the field on Saturday to take on the Blue Jays for the third game in the opening series, Mullins climbed in the batting order to the fifth spot and would go 1-4 in the contest as the Orioles would win 9-5. Mullins' average currently sits at .333 on the season and while it may be too early to call, he looks to have escaped the funk that left fans questioning his reliability in spring training.