Cedric Mullins burst onto the scene in the 2021 MLB season, posting impressive offensive and defensive numbers for the Baltimore Orioles.
As a switch-hitting center fielder, Mullins quickly became a fan favorite for his speed on the basepaths, solid defense, and ability to hit for average and power.
But just how good was Mullins in 2021, and can he sustain his level of performance in the long term? In this blog post, we will break down Mullins’ offensive and defensive metrics, analyze his expected statistics, and offer a final evaluation of his performance in the 2021 season.
Offensive Performance
Cedric Mullins had an excellent offensive season in 2021, as evidenced by his slash line of .318/.403/.498. This indicates that he had a high batting average, a high on-base percentage, and a respectable slugging percentage.
The fact that he hit over .300 shows that he was able to consistently make contact with the ball, and his on-base percentage of .403 suggests that he had a good eye at the plate and was able to draw walks.
Mullins’ slugging percentage of .498 shows that he had some power in his bat, as he was able to hit for extra bases and drive in runs. This is further supported by his 16 home runs and 64 RBI, which are solid numbers for a leadoff hitter.
Additionally, Mullins’ 89 runs scored in 156 games indicate that he was a valuable contributor to his team’s offense.
Mullins’ OPS+ of 104 is slightly above average, which suggests that he was a productive offensive player overall. OPS+ takes into account a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the ballpark and era in which they played, and normalizes the number to 100 as the league average.
A score of 104 means that Mullins was four percent better than the average offensive player in the league.
Overall, Mullins’ counting stats indicate that he was a productive offensive player in 2021, and his slash line and OPS+ suggest that he was above average in terms of overall offensive value.
Base Running and Defense
In addition to his strong offensive performance, Cedric Mullins was also a valuable contributor on the basepaths and in the field. He led the Orioles with 34 stolen bases in 2021, demonstrating his speed and ability to put pressure on opposing defenses.
This added a new dimension to his offensive game and made him a more dynamic threat at the plate. His stolen base total was second in the American League, behind only his teammate Jorge Mateo.
Mullins’ defensive metrics were also impressive in 2021, which contributed to his overall value as a player. He played center field for the Orioles and displayed excellent range and good instincts, resulting in him being named a Gold Glove finalist.
His defensive WAR (dWAR) was 1.4, indicating that his defense alone added 1.4 wins to the Orioles’ season.
Mullins’ range factor (RF) of 2.54 was also above average, meaning that he was able to cover more ground in center field than the average player.
This is further supported by his 9 defensive runs saved (DRS), which is a metric that quantifies the number of runs a player saved on defense compared to the average player at their position.
Overall, Mullins’ base running and defensive metrics add significant value to his overall performance as a player. His speed and stolen base ability make him a threat on the basepaths, and his excellent defense in the center field makes him a valuable asset to the Orioles’ roster.
Expected Statistics
Although Cedric Mullins had a very productive 2021 season, some of his expected statistics suggest that his performance may have been somewhat unsustainable.
For example, his expected slugging percentage (xSLG) dropped to the 18th percentile in the league, and his expected batting average (xBA) dropped to the 24th percentile.
Similarly, his expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) dropped to the 17th percentile, and his barrel percentage dropped to the 24th percentile.
These expected statistics are based on the quality of contact that a player makes, and they take into account factors such as exit velocity and launch angle.
xSLG measures a player’s expected slugging percentage based on the quality of their contact, while xBA measures a player’s expected batting average based on the quality of their contact.
xwOBA is a more comprehensive statistic that takes into account a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage, while barrel percentage measures the percentage of batted balls that are hit with an ideal combination of exit velocity and launch angle.
While these expected statistics suggest that Mullins may have been somewhat fortunate in 2021, they should be taken with a grain of salt.
It’s important to note that these metrics are not perfect predictors of a player’s true talent level and that there is always some variance in a player’s performance from season to season.
Additionally, Mullins’ performance in 2021 was supported by his excellent base running and defensive metrics, which add significant value to his overall performance as a player.
Overall, while Mullins’ drop in expected statistics may suggest that his 2021 season was somewhat unsustainable, his overall performance and contribution to the Orioles should not be discounted.
Cedric Mullins 2021 Season Vs Career Averages
| Statistic | 2021 Season | Career Average |
|---|---|---|
| Slash Line | .318/.403/.498 | .278/.337/.420 |
| OPS+ | 104 | 90 |
| Hits | 157 | 102 |
| Home Runs | 16 | 9 |
| RBI | 64 | 39 |
| Runs Scored | 89 | 53 |
| Stolen Bases | 34 | 11 |
| bWAR | 3.8 | 1.6 |
FAQs
How old is Cedric Mullins?
Cedric Mullins was born on October 1, 1994, which makes him 28 years old as of 2022.
How long has Cedric Mullins been playing in the MLB?
Cedric Mullins made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles on August 10, 2018, and has been playing in the league for four seasons as of 2022.
What position does Cedric Mullins play?
Cedric Mullins is primarily an outfielder and has played all three outfield positions (center field, left field, and right field) for the Baltimore Orioles.
What kind of hitter is Cedric Mullins?
Cedric Mullins is a left-handed hitter who is known for his ability to get on base and hit for some power. He has displayed excellent contact skills throughout his career and has the ability to hit for average as well.
What is Cedric Mullins’ contract situation?
As of 2022, Cedric Mullins is not yet eligible for free agency. He is still in his pre-arbitration years and is under team control by the Baltimore Orioles for the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
Cedric Mullins had a breakout 2021 season, establishing himself as one of the most productive players in the league.
He displayed a strong offensive performance with a slash line of .318/.403/.498, and his OPS+ of 104 suggests that he was a valuable contributor to the Orioles’ offense.
Mullins’ base is running and defensive metrics were also impressive, adding significant value to his overall performance as a player.
While some of Mullins’ expected statistics suggest that his performance may have been somewhat unsustainable, it’s important to note that his performance was supported by his excellent base running and defensive metrics.
Additionally, there is always some variance in a player’s performance from season to season, and Mullins’ 2021 season should be celebrated for what it was: a breakout performance from a talented young player.
Looking forward, Mullins’ performance in 2021 suggests that he has the potential to continue to be a productive player for the Orioles and a valuable asset to their roster. As he continues to develop as a player, it will be exciting to see what he is able to accomplish in the future.
