Orioles middle fielder Cedric Mullins exited Monday’s Grapefruit League contest towards the Twins with discomfort in his hamstring, the workforce introduced. Mullins drew a leadoff stroll and superior to second base on a grounder. He then walked off the sphere beneath his personal energy two pitches into the following at-bat. Enrique Bradfield Jr. changed him on the bases.
Happily for O’s followers, it appears the state of affairs is comparatively minor. Supervisor Brandon Hyde known as Mullins’ exit “precautionary” following the sport (X hyperlink through Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner). Concern is low sufficient that the workforce isn’t even planning on performing an MRI or another imaging to find out if there’s a extra severe difficulty at play. Mullins is taken into account day-to-day for now, in response to Hyde.
The 29-year-old Mullins has been a gentle contributor on each side of the ball for the Orioles over the previous three seasons, though the 2023 marketing campaign was his worst and, maybe not coincidentally, least wholesome of the three. Mullins had a pair of IL stints final season attributable to proper groin strains, ending out the season with a .233/.305/.416 slash (99 wRC+), 15 residence runs and 19 stolen bases in 116 video games. He missed solely 9 complete video games the 2 seasons prior, batting a mixed .274/.339/.460 with 46 massive flies and 64 steals. If there’s any type of setback, infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo and prime outfield prospect Colton Cowser are available as choices to see time in middle subject.
Mateo has historically been a shortstop, however the workforce has already steered that the wealth of infield expertise on the Baltimore roster will possible push Mateo into the outfield extra steadily in 2024. The fleet-footed Mateo’s main spot lately, shortstop, sounds as if it’ll be dealt with primarily by reigning AL Rookie of the Yr Gunnar Henderson in 2024. Whereas Henderson is able to taking part in each shortstop and third base at a excessive degree, the 22-year-old stated yesterday that his taking part in time can be “leaning extra towards shortstop” (X hyperlink through the Baltimore Solar’s Matt Weyrich).
Henderson has performed shortstop, third base and (far more briefly) second base thus far within the massive leagues. He cut up his time between the 2 left-side infield positions practically evenly in 2023, logging 594 innings at third base and 584 at shortstop. Defensive metrics touted his glovework at each spots, however he drew stronger marks at shortstop (significantly from Defensive Runs Saved, which pegged him at +10). Third base, then, will possible be left to a mix of Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias and prospect Coby Mayo, although Mateo may additionally see time there. Present No. 1 total prospect Jackson Holliday has been taking part in second base this spring, whereas every of Westburg and Urias can play principally wherever within the infield. Mayo’s main place is third base, although there’s some thought he may ultimately transfer to first base or an outfield nook. Regardless, he’s not but on the 40-man roster.
In fact, a considerable a part of the main target in Orioles camp proper now’s on right-hander Kyle Bradish, who’s at present trying a relaxation/rehab strategy to mending a sprain in his proper ulnar collateral ligament. Bradish had a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier than the O’s even publicly introduced the damage, and Weyrich writes that he’s been throwing pain-free from flat floor.
Whereas normal supervisor Mike Elias struck an optimistic tone, he additionally preached warning and declined to position a timeline on the right-hander’s potential return. Bradish himself famous that follow-up MRIs have proven “accelerated therapeutic” of the ligament thus far, Weyrich writes, although that doesn’t but imply he’s dodged a long-term absence. Bradish has but to throw off a mound and at present isn’t throwing at full depth. The early outcomes are maybe trigger for some cautious optimism, however there’s a methods to go within the course of.
In the intervening time, it doesn’t appear as if Bradish’s damage will immediate the Orioles to make one other notable acquisition. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com downplayed the potential of the Orioles signing a big-name free agent, writing that the workforce seems happy with its depth at current. Baltimore picked up Julio Teheran on a minor league deal late final week and will give him a glance early within the season, however Kubatko extra particularly famous that he’d be “floored” to see the O’s pursue an opt-out-laden take care of a prime free agent like Jordan Montgomery.
