Wednesday Bird Droppings: Cedric Mullins made us proud

Good morning Birdland,

If your team is only going to have one representative at the All-Star Game, making them a starter is definitely the way to go. Highly recommended.

Cedric Mullins started in center field for the American League, as he deserved, and managed to put some numbers on the stat sheet. He should have had a hit, but a curious scoring decision meant he reached on an error instead. Not to worry, Mullins would score later in the inning to give his box score line a little more spice.

Mullins’ night on the defensive side was a bit quieter, but he did record an out on a Fernando Tatis Jr. fly ball in the third inning. So, that was cool too!

Add in the way that the O’s center fielder was in Trey Mancini’s corner (along with Manny Machado) throughout Monday night’s Home Run Derby, and it’s safe to say that he had a pretty great week in Denver. Hopefully it’s the first of many to come.

Links & Notes

Mullins: Double-A in ‘19, ASG starter in ‘21 | Orioles.com
There are a lot of cool stories to get through when talking about an All-Star team, but Mullins’ seems a bit more noteworthy than most. He was a late-round draft pick that looked all but toast two years ago, and now he is the best centerfielder on the junior circuit. It may sound like a broken record, but it’s just really that impressive.

From woodworking to hitting, Orioles No. 5 MLB draft pick Colton Cowser brings special hands and ‘enthusiasm to grind’ | The Baltimore Sun
It’s interesting to see what a difference a stint in college can mean to a player like Colton Cowser. He was not drafted out of high school despite, obviously, being good enough to go play at a Division I school. A few years later he is regarded as one of the best hitters in the country. It will be cool to see him get started as a professional sometime soon.

1 intriguing Draft pick for each team | MLB Pipeline
The O’s are not scared to grab college players from small schools, like really small schools. They did it again by picking Dylan Heid, a pitcher from University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, a college with an undergrad population of about 2,500. Heid was picked in the 11th round, the same place that John Means went back in 2014. Just saying!

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday! You are joined by a big slate of former Orioles:

• Isaac Mattson turns 26 today. The right-handed relief pitcher has appeared in two games for the Orioles this season. He was one of the four pitchers acquired from the Angels prior to the 2020 season in exchange for Dylan Bundy.
• Andrew Velazquez celebrates his 27th birthday. The utilityman appeared in 40 games for the Orioles last season, playing four different positions in the process. He is now in the Yankees minor league system.
• Bernie Castro is 42 years old today. He debuted in the big leagues with a 24-game run on the 2005 Orioles. He spent some time with the Nationals in the following season, but has been out of affiliate ball since 2008.
• Derrick May is 53. The outfielder wrapped up his 10-year big league career with a 26-game cameo on the 1999 O’s.
• Victor Rodríguez celebrates his 60th. The former infielder appeared in 11 games for the 1984 Orioles.
• Billy Smith is 68. From 1977 through 1979, the infielder hit .237/.304/.357 while playing nice defense up the middle.
• The late Earl Williams (d. 2013) was born on this day in 1948. He split his time between catcher and first base with the O’s from 1973 through 1974, posting a 112 OPS+ in the process.
• Steve Stone is 75. The former right-handed pitcher finished his 11-season career with three seasons in Baltimore from 1979 through 1981, including a Cy Young-winning performance in 1980 where he posted a 3.23 ERA, 25 wins, and 123 ERA+ over 250.2 innings

Orioles history

1964 - Orioles infielder Bob Johnson sets an American League record by getting his sixth straight hit as a pinch hitter

2012 - Reserve catcher Taylor Teagarden hits a walk-off, two-run home run in his first active game as an Oriole to lift his new team over the visiting Tigers 8-6 in the 13th inning.