Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins was held out of the lineup on Monday and Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, though the move was reportedly for rest purposes. Despite the days off, Mullins continues to battle through a slow start to his 2025 campaign, trying to find the offensive consistency that has made him a cornerstone of the Orioles’ lineup.
Cedric Mullins Back In St. Louis Cardinals Lineup
The Orioles are hoping the brief break will allow him to reset and rediscover the form that made him one of the league’s top centerfielders just a few seasons ago. His presence remains vital — not just because of his talent, but because of his leadership on a team still trying to grow into its identity. As it stands, Baltimore sits at the bottom of the AL East with a disappointing 19-36 record, a far cry from the progress the team seemed to be making in recent years.
Mullins was back in the lineup on Wednesday, hitting seventh and playing centerfield on Wednesday night. He had a strong game, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base in a 6-4 loss to the surging Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II and Masyn Winn’s St. Louis Cardinals
Baltimore Orioles Won 101 Games In 2023 and 91 Games In 2024
Coming into the season, expectations were high for a young and talented Orioles roster. With a mix of promising prospects and seasoned veterans, the team was projected by many to compete for another postseason berth. Mullins, one of the few long-tenured players is a steadying force both on the field and in the clubhouse. As a leader and All-Star, his example and production were supposed to help guide this young core through the challenges of a long season. Instead, both Mullins and the team have struggled to find their rhythm in the early going.
Mullins Is First 30-30 Player In Baltimore Orioles Stories History
Mullins was drafted by the Orioles in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft and has remained with the organization ever since, working his way up through the minor league system with hard-nosed play and resilience. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and quickly flashed the speed, defense, and contact hitting that projected him as the franchise’s center fielder of the future.
After some initial growing pains and inconsistency, Mullins began to turn a corner during the shortened 2020 season, where he posted a respectable .271 batting average and showed noticeable improvement at the plate. But it was in 2021 that Mullins truly broke out, delivering one of the most memorable seasons in recent Orioles history. He hit .291 with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, becoming the first player in franchise history to join the exclusive 30–30 club. That performance earned him a well-deserved All-Star nod and solidified his role as the centerpiece of Baltimore’s rebuild.
Mullins remained a key figure in the team’s resurgence, helping lead the Orioles to back-to-back AL Wild Card appearances. His defense in center field remained elite, and his leadership helped elevate the team’s young core.
However, since that peak in 2021, Mullins has struggled to recapture that same level of production. While flashes of his former self have appeared, they’ve been inconsistent. The Orioles remain hopeful that with continued support and perhaps a bit of patience, Mullins can once again rise to the occasion and play a pivotal role in turning the season around.
