What should the Mets expect from Cedric Mullins? Scouts, evaluators weigh in

New York Times

4 days ago

Several years ago, when spring training reached that familiar monotonous stage, with every day starting to feel the same and the regular season too far away to count down, Buck Showalter wanted to add energy. Showalter, then the Baltimore Orioles manager, asked Brian Graham, the club's farm director at the time, to borrow a player from minor-league camp who could enter a game late and provide a spark. It didn't take long for Graham to think of someone.
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That's how Cedric Mullins, whom the industry didn't deem as much of a prospect at the time, took the 30-minute ride from Sarasota, Fla., to Bradenton to play in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He took just one at-bat. The game ended up as his only appearance for the Orioles in that spring 2016. But he made a lasting impression by hitting a double, using his speed and flashing a big smile. There was life to his game.
'I'll never forget watching him that day in Bradenton,' Showalter said by phone Friday. 'It was like, 'Where has this guy been?''
Nearly a decade later, the New York Mets are hoping they got that same kind of player in Mullins after acquiring the center fielder Thursday in a trade with the Orioles, the only organization he had ever played for.
Mullins arrived at Citi Field on Friday about 2 1/2 hours before first pitch (7:10 p.m.). Therefore, he was activated on the roster but not inserted into the starting lineup. In the Mets' 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants, Mullins appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and popped out, and then stayed in the game at center field.
'I'm just trying to be myself and bring the type of game I know I can bring,' Mullins said before the game. 'Using my legs, running, stealing bases, playing solid defense, showing a little bit of power here and there, bunts — just a little bit of everything.'
Since Mullins was a late arrival, Tyrone Taylor started at center field with Jeff McNeil at second base. Before the Mullins trade, Taylor and McNeil split time in center field. Around 5:30 p.m., Taylor left manager Carlos Mendoza's office after a conversation about more of a bench role. New York sent Baltimore three prospects; Taylor and McNeil still linger as options, but Mullins is going to absorb most of the playing time in center field.
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With McNeil set for more action at second base, Mendoza said his messaging to the group of young infielders — Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty — battling for time at third base and designated hitter was, 'There's a healthy competition … even if you're not in the lineup, you're probably going to get the biggest at-bat in the sixth or seventh inning.' With Mullins active, the Mets optioned infielder Luisangel Acuña to Triple A.
Cedric's here 👀 pic.twitter.com/FYUNukUOWP
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 1, 2025
People who know him well describe Mullins as reserved. Friday, he answered questions from reporters using a soft voice. In the clubhouse, he prefers to blend in. It's on the field where he can sometimes stand out.
'It is sometimes hard to find a guy who is both, but he has a strong work ethic while playing with some flair,' a longtime scout of an American League team said. 'Offensively, he is streaky, but he can do a lot to win a club games — hit a home run, steal a base, make a catch, plus the little things, like cutting balls off well, taking the extra base.'
Added another AL evaluator, 'He runs hot and cold offensively sometimes, but whether it's offense, defense, base running, he gives you everything he's got.'
The Mets swung two trades with the Orioles — they also acquired lefty reliever Gregory Soto from them — and talks between the two clubs started weeks ago. Mullins was a big part of those discussions. In 335 plate appearances with the Orioles this season, Mullins slashed .229/.305/.433 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Against lefties this season, Mullins, a left-handed batter, has a .866 OPS. After struggling significantly in May and June (.542 OPS), he bounced back in July, producing an .868 OPS.
The Mets studied Mullins' production, particularly over the last eight weeks. For his career, Mullins has hit right-handed pitchers better than lefties, but Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns pointed to approach adjustments Mullins has made recently against southpaws (while citing the difficulty of putting too much stock in small samples of reverse splits). The Mets haven't hit lefties well, and it remains to be seen how much action Mullins will see against them. Besides lengthening the lineup a bit, the Mets need strong defense from Mullins. Despite his defensive metrics being down, Mets officials believe he has offered quality defense in center field since recovering from a hamstring tweak several weeks ago.
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Mendoza, who spent four seasons as the New York Yankees' bench coach before replacing Showalter as the Mets manager ahead of the 2024 season, observed plenty of Mullins. He said Mullins' jumps, routes and speed make him a standout defender.
'There are years where you feel like, man, that's weird, that he's grading so low defensively,' Mendoza said, 'but when you watch this kid play, especially for the last, what, four, five, six weeks, he's a pretty elite defender out there.'
With his strong base running, good defense and capable bat, Mullins seemingly fits the Mets' roster well.
'New York is a great place to land,' Mullins said.
Not everyone who comes to New York via trade assimilates well over the final two months. People familiar with Mullins say he should adjust fine to a new team and a new city — one full of expectations — because of his personality and multidimensional skills.
'He is so sincere and so humble,' said Showalter, Mullins' first manager in the major leagues who spent a combined six seasons guiding the Mets and Yankees. 'He is going to smile easily, but he is a tough kid, too, who knows the seriousness of what's needed.'