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Cedric Mullins quickly became the saving grace for the Baltimore Orioles. The 27-year-old's rapid ascent to stardom has provided a much-needed glimmer of hope for a franchise that has very little of it.
The chances were against Mullins as he became an All-Star though. In fact, the odds were against him for playing in the 2021 season, to begin with. In November of 2020, the Orioles' star outfielder was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation in the digestive tract that can lead to weight loss, malnutrition and severe pain. He had part of his intestines removed and dealt with an infection after the procedure.
Mullins said to MLB Players Media that he doubted his ability to be ready for the 2021 season.
Today, Cedric Mullins shares a very personal story for the first time.
Mullins was baseball's only 30-30 player last season, and he did it while battling Crohn's disease.@cedmull30 | @CrohnsColitisFn pic.twitter.com/HoOLgpGXRx
— MLB Players Media (@MLBPlayersMedia) February 2, 2022
The performance Mullins put showed he was more than ready. In 159 games in the 2021 season, Mullins became the latest player and first member of the Orioles to join the 30-30 club. He produced a slash line of .291/.360/.518 and recorded 175 hits, 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
The Orioles have a long road back to becoming a good team, especially in a division that had four teams that won over 90 games. Mullins, pitcher John Means and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle are the team's only noteworthy players, though they have the top minor league prospect in catcher Adley Rutschman. The franchise is looking to trade Means, though he could get them a solid package of players.
Baltimore has lots of work to do but they have a terrific star in Mullins to lead them there. His perseverance makes him a great leader, as does his undeniable talent.
