Cedric Mullins

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #9 prospect in 2018
  Despite his 5-foot-8 frame and small-college pedigree out of Campbell, Mullins has been a dynamic presence in the Orioles' system since they selected him in the 13th round in 2015. He was one of eight minor leaguers to reach double digits in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases while hitting .273 for at low Class A Delmarva in 2016, and he jumped to Double-A Bowie in 2017, where hamstring issues led to two disabled list stints. Mullins impressed the major league coaching staff in limited spring training looks with his calmness and range in the outfield, showing the ability to play solid-average defense in center field and above-average defense in left. His above-average speed is enough to cover ground at all three spots, but his below-average arm will limit him. At the plate, he's a switch-hitter with average potential and a line-drive swing from the left side who still is developing as a righthanded hitter. But his quick-twitch swing and reactions at the plate intrigue scouts. With just 76 games at Double-A, Mullins could return there to start 2018, though he'll likely get a chance to make another impression in big league camp. His defensive profile and speed could grant him the opportunity to play in the big leagues as at least a fourth outfielder.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #26 prospect in 2017
  Mullins is the sort of player who flies under the radar, both because of his short stature at 5-foot-8 and the fact he he was a 13th-round pick from a small college. Still, Mullins was the highest drafted player out of Campbell since 2002 and notably drew praise from Orioles manager Buck Showalter in March 2016 when he went to see Yovani Gallardo pitch at minor league camp. Mullins filled up the stat sheet at low Class A Delmarva in 2016 with 61 extra-base hits--including 14 home runs--79 runs and 30 steals in 124 games. Mullins uses a mature, professional hitting approach with gap-to-gap power and plus speed. He's a good bunter and worked as the leadoff hitter and center fielder for the Shorebirds. He could continue to show doubles pop with fewer homers as he moves up, one scout said. While he doesn't strike out excessively, Mullins will need to make more contact to profile at the top of the order. He is a solid fielder with an arm grading a tick below average. Mullins will start 2017 at high Class A Frederick with a chance to move up to Double-A Bowie during the year.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #15 prospect in 2018
  Mullins played his way into this rating because he does so many things well. Where production matters, Mullins excels. “He has aptitude,” Norfolk manager Ron Johnson said. “He’s a baseball player. He adapted. He has very good instincts.” Mullins rates high in base running and plate discipline, where patience helps boost his grades. He has shown he can handle fastballs, showcasing loose hands and the ability to adjust. What might impress Johnson most is that Mullins, whose speed is an asset, plays like he’s above-average in size rather than 5-foot-8. There are some mixed reviews based, but an array of scouts see Mullins as making it as an everyday leadoff batter.
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  Ranked Eastern League #13 prospect in 2018
  After an excellent second half with Bowie in 2017, Mullins returned to the EL in 2018 and showed significant further improvement. He did damage from both sides of the plate, on the bases and in center field, and in doing so earned himself his first big league callup. Mullins is not an imposing presence, but he packs sneaky power into a twitchy body. He’s a plus runner who turns in plus-plus times at his best. That speed and excellent instincts paid off on the basepaths (21 steals in 22 ties) and in center field, where he pairs his speed with excellent routes. His impact at the plate was fairly evenly distributed in Double-A, though he had a little bit tougher time from the left side in Triple-A before his promotion to Baltimore. Despite his smaller size, scouts point to the big-time torque he gets in his hips as a reason to believe he’ll be able to produce power in the big leagues. With Adam Jones a free agent at season’s end, Mullins is a solid candidate to be Baltimore’s everyday center fielder in 2019.
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  Ranked Eastern League #18 prospect in 2017
  Along with Austin Hays and D.J. Stewart, Mullins helped make the Bowie outfield the best in the EL in the second half of the season. Mullins skipped high Class A Frederick and rewarded the Orioles for their confidence around stints on the disabled list with left hamstring pulls. Managers around the league raved about Mullins' play in center field, which included plenty of highlight-reel catches to rob hitters of extra bases. He played right field at times this year to help get Hays reps in center field and handled the experience well. EL managers also noted big-time bat speed with more power than expected considering Mullins' compact frame. The switch-hitter made plenty of contact this year and has above-average speed to leg out infield hits. Though he swiped just nine bases in 16 chances this year, managers around the league expect double-digit totals as he matures.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Injuries kept Mullins from putting together the type of standout season he seemed on pace for in 2017, but a return to Double-A to finish off the level showed a switch-hitting outfielder who can influence the game with more than just his bat. Mullins should be up with the Orioles by the end of the summer, possibly injecting some speed and range into an outfield that desperately lacks it.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Despite his 5-foot-8 frame and small-college pedigree out of Campbell, Mullins has been a dynamic presence in the Orioles' system since they selected him in the 13th round of the 2015 draft. He was one of eight minor leaguers to reach double-digits in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases while hitting .273 for low Class-A Delmarva in 2016, and jumped to Double-A Bowie in 2017, where hamstring issues led to two disabled list stints. Scouting Report: Mullins impressed the major league coaching staff in limited spring training looks with his calmness and range in the outfield, showing the ability to play solid-average defense in center field and above-average defense in left. His above-average speed is enough to cover ground at all three spots, but his below-average arm will limit him. At the plate, he's a switch-hitter with average potential and a line-drive swing from the left side who is still developing as a righthanded hitter. But his quick-twitch swing and reactions at the plate intrigue scouts. The Future: With just 76 games at Double-A, Mullins could return there to start 2018, though he'll likely get a chance to make another impression in major league camp. His defensive profile and speed are such that he should get the opportunity to hold down an every-day outfield job at his peak.