Mullins builds case for ASG with 4-hit night

Cedric Mullins played his way into the national conversation with a sensational first-half, snuck into the field of nine outfield finalists on the initial 2021 MLB All-Star Game ballot, and is now pushing to start in the Midsummer Classic with voting hours away from closing. Perhaps he can smell it, because Mullins isn’t slowing down. In fact, he may be playing his best baseball yet.

The latest example came Tuesday, when Mullins starred in the Orioles’ hard-fought, injury-laden 13-3 win at Minute Maid Park, their second victory over the AL West-leading Astros in as many days. Connecting for a leadoff homer and the go-ahead, seventh-inning double as part of another four-hit game, Mullins lifted the Orioles on a night their pitching staff issued nine walks and lost emergency starter Travis Lakins Sr. to right elbow discomfort after 1 2/3 innings.

The O’s also received notable contributions from Austin Hays (two-run single) and Anthony Santander (solo homer), both of whom have played for weeks through nagging injuries, before blowing things open with nine runs in the eighth and ninth.

“I didn’t know how we were going to finish the game [when Lakins exited],” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We had a bunch of guys pick us up.”

But the headliner was Mullins, who appears primed to make his first All-Star appearance next month, in some capacity. Speaking before the game, Trey Mancini admitted he wasn’t expecting his (“beyond unbelievable,” per Hyde, given the circumstances) first half to result in an All-Star nod, though he will participate in the Home Run Derby. The Orioles’ other candidate, John Means, remains injured and won’t be active for the game, despite his impressive statistical case.

The question, at this late hour, seems to be whether the masses deem Mullins worthy of an All-Star start. By play alone, his case is airtight. So strong, that had it come on a contender or in a bigger market, it wouldn’t require an explanation. Mullins leads the American League in hits, leads all AL outfielders in OPS, steals and Wins Above Replacement, and ranks among the leaders in nearly every other major statistical category. His story -- anointed the Orioles’ center fielder of the future, then demoted to Double-A, to become one of the sport’s toughest outs today -- is inspiring. He is a conscientious citizen, a brilliant defender, and by all accounts, an exemplary teammate.

“It’s crazy what he’s doing,” said rookie left-hander Alexander Wells, who logged 2 2/3 innings of middle relief for his first big league victory. “There is no doubt he should be in Colorado in the coming weeks.”

“Unbelievable game for him again,” said Hyde "He’s doing it all. When he plays well, we have a great chance.”

Yet Mullins placed fifth among AL outfielders in the first Phase 2 voting update released Tuesday, behind top vote-getters Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton and Michael Brantley. It is one of the AL ballot’s tightest races, with its second-through-sixth place vote-getters -- Judge through Adolis García, at sixth place -- separated by just 4 total percentage points. Trout and Buxton are currently on the injured list, meaning Mullins already ranks in the top 3 vote-getters among outfielders who will be eligible to play the game. Voting ends at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday.

If elected, Mullins would become the first Orioles outfielder to start the All-Star Game since Adam Jones, with whom he maintains a relationship, in 2014. He would probably be the first to do so after seeing his own face on a doughnut, but that’s unconfirmed. It would certainly be part of Mullins Mania, the reality of his new, crazy life. And since Charm City caught All-Star fever, he’s been the best version of himself: batting .381 with 16 extra-base hits, eight home runs and five steals in his past 22 games.

“I get most of the attention brought to me well before the game,” Mullins said. “When I’m in the hotel, chillin’, relaxing, people [are] hitting me up, saying they’re rooting and voting for me. It’s greatly appreciated. But once the game starts, it completely blanks out of my head, and I’m concentrated on the game and contributing [in] any way I can to a win.”