The Orioles confirmed that centre fielder Cedric Mullins left Monday’s Grapefruit League game against the Twins due to hamstring pain. After drawing a leadoff walk, Mullins grounded out to get to second base. Then, two pitches into the following at-bat, he powered off the field. On the bases, he was replaced by Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Fortunately, it appears that the issue is not too serious for O’s supporters. After the game, manager Brandon Hyde described Mullins’ departure as “precautionary” (X link via Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner). The level of concern is so low that an MRI or any other imaging test to see if a more serious problem is at hand is not even planned by the team. Hyde said Mullins is regarded as day-to-day for the time being.
Over the previous three seasons, the 29-year-old Mullins has been a reliable player for the Orioles on all sides of the ball; however, the 2023 season was his weakest and, maybe unsurprisingly, his least healthy of the three. Due to right groyne strains, Mullins spent two trips in the minor leagues last season. Despite this, he finished 116 games with a slash line of.233/.305/.416 (99 wRC+), 15 home runs, and 19 stolen bases. The two seasons before, he batted a combined.274/.339/.460 with 46 big flies and 64 steals, missing just nine games in all. Top outfield prospect Colton Cowser and infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo are available to get time in centre field in the event of a setback.
Although Mateo has always played shortstop, the team has already hinted that in 2024 he will probably be forced more into the outfield due to Baltimore’s abundance of infield skill. Shortstop, Mateo’s major position in recent years, looks like it will be primarily handled by AL Rookie of the Year winner Gunnar Henderson in 2024. Henderson has swift of foot. Henderson, 22, stated yesterday that he would be “leaning more towards shortstop” despite the fact that he is a highly skilled shortstop and third base player (X link via the Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich).
So far in the major leagues, Henderson has played shortstop, third base, and (much more briefly) second base. In 2023, he played about equally at both left-side infield positions, accumulating 594 innings at third base and 584 at shortstop. His glovework was praised by defensive metrics at both shortstop and second base, but his performance at shortstop was better (especially at shortstop, where he was rated at +10). Therefore, Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias, and prospect Coby Mayo will probably be left at third base, though Mateo might possibly see time there. This spring, Jackson Holliday, the current No. 1 overall prospect, has been playing second base, while Westburg and Urias can both play virtually anywhere in the infield. Mayo’s main ranking is third.
Naturally, right-hander Kyle Bradish, who is now trying to heal from a sprain in his right ulnar collateral ligament, is the centre of attention at Orioles camp at the moment. Before the O’s even made the injury public, Bradish received a platelet-rich plasma injection, and according to Weyrich, he has been throwing painlessly from flat ground ever since.
Although Mike Elias, the general manager, expressed optimism, he also advised prudence and would not provide a timetable for the right-hander’s possible return. Although Bradish himself stated that subsequent MRIs have so far revealed “accelerated healing” of the ligament, Weyrich notes that this does not yet imply he has avoided a lengthy layoff. Bradish is not throwing as hard as he should right now and has yet to throw off a mound. Although there is still work to be done in the process, the preliminary results may warrant some cautious optimism.
It doesn’t appear that Bradish’s injury will force the Orioles to make another significant acquisition at this time. The Orioles may not sign a big-name free agent, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, who also noted that the team seems content with its depth right now. Kubatko said that he would be “floored” to see the O’s seek an opt-out-laden deal with a top free agent like Jordan Montgomery. However, Teheran was signed by Baltimore late last week on a minor league deal, and the team may give him a look early in the season.
