Cedric Mullins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cedric Mullins |
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Mullins with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022
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| Baltimore Orioles – No. 31 | ||||||||||||||
| Center fielder | ||||||||||||||
| Born: October 1, 1994 Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| August 10, 2018, for the Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .252 | |||||||||||||
| Home runs | 86 | |||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 278 | |||||||||||||
| Stolen bases | 125 | |||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Cedric Mullins (born October 1, 1994) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball (MLB). Cedric made his big league debut in 2018. He became an All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2021. He is known for his speed and power on the field.
Contents
Becoming a Baseball Star
Early Days and College Play
Cedric Mullins went to Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. After high school, he played college baseball at Louisburg College. He did very well there, earning top grades. In 2014, he earned an Associate of Arts degree.
Then, in 2015, he played for Campbell University. He was a top player for the Fighting Camels. Cedric led his team in many ways. He had the best batting average and scored the most runs. He also hit the most base hits, doubles, and triples. The Baltimore Orioles chose him in the 2015 MLB draft.
Starting His Professional Journey
Cedric began his professional career in 2015. He played for the Low-A Aberdeen IronBirds. He hit well and helped his team. In 2016, he moved up to the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. There, he hit 14 home runs and stole 30 stolen bases.
In 2017, he played for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He continued to show his skills. By 2018, he was promoted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. During this time, he earned the cool nickname "Parking Lot Ced." This was because he hit so many home runs that they landed outside the ballpark!
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles
2018: A Big Debut
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The Orioles called Cedric up to the major leagues on August 10, 2018. He played his first MLB game that very night. It was an amazing debut! He got three base hits, two RBI, and scored three runs. He was the first Oriole ever to get three hits in his first MLB game. He also joined a small group of players to score three or more runs and get two or more extra-base hits in their debut. Cedric finished the season playing 45 games.
2019: Facing Challenges
Cedric started the 2019 season as the Orioles' main center fielder. However, he had a tough start. He was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk in April. He kept struggling there and was later sent to Double-A Bowie. Even though he was sent down, his manager, Brandon Hyde, still believed in him. Cedric played in Double-A for the rest of the year. He ended the season with a .094 batting average in Baltimore.
2020: A Strong Comeback
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Even after a difficult 2019, Cedric worked hard. He earned a spot on the Orioles' opening day team in 2020. This season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cedric played well, hitting .271 with 3 home runs and 7 stolen bases.
He later shared that he had been dealing with a health challenge. He played the entire 2020 season with stomach pain. In November 2020, he had surgery to help him feel better. This showed his amazing strength and dedication to the game.
2021: Becoming an All-Star
In 2021, Cedric made a big change. He decided to stop hitting from both sides of the plate. He became a full-time left-handed hitter. This decision paid off! He had his first game with two home runs on April 26. From June 4 to June 6, he got 9 hits in a row, including 3 home runs.
On July 4, Cedric was chosen as an All-Star for the first time. He was even picked to be the starting center fielder in the All-Star Game. On September 24, Cedric made history for the Orioles. He became the first player since the team moved to Baltimore to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in one season! This is a rare achievement called the 30–30 club.
For the 2021 season, Cedric had a fantastic year. He hit .291 with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He also led all major league outfielders in putouts. He won the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award. In November 2021, he received his first Silver Slugger Award. This award goes to the best offensive players at each position.
2022: More Great Plays
On April 12, 2022, Cedric hit his first career grand slam. A grand slam is a home run with the bases loaded, scoring four runs! He finished the 2022 season with 16 home runs and 34 stolen bases. In January 2023, he signed a new contract with the Orioles for the 2023 season.
2023: Hitting for the Cycle
On May 12, 2023, Cedric achieved another rare feat: he hit for the cycle! This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game. He was the seventh Oriole in history to do this.
Later in the season, he made more amazing plays. On August 13, he made a great catch to stop a potential game-tying home run. He then hit a two-run home run in extra innings to win the game. On September 11, he hit another grand slam. And on September 18, his three-run home run in the ninth inning helped the Orioles win a close game.
Playing for Team USA
On August 21, 2022, Cedric announced he would play for the United States national baseball team. He joined the team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. This is a big international baseball tournament.
Awards and Achievements
Cedric Mullins has earned several important awards and honors:
| Awards, honors, and exhibition team selections | Times | Dates | References |
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| MLB All-Star | 1 | 2021 | |
| Silver Slugger Award at outfield | 1 | 2021 |
Life Outside Baseball
Cedric Mullins first attended Louisburg College. He then graduated from Campbell University with a degree in business administration. He also enjoys marketing and math. He once said he might have become an engineer if he hadn't played baseball.
Cedric married his longtime girlfriend, Erika Hardy, in November 2022. Their daughter was born in December 2023. They also have a dog named Lilo. Cedric is a big fan of anime, especially Naruto. He says Naruto has inspired him since he was a kid and throughout his baseball career.
Images for kids
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Mullins with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022
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Mullins in 2018
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Mullins (right) with the Bowie Baysox after his second demotion of the 2019 season
