Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles, baseball’s top power-speed threat in 2021, opened up in a video (Twitter link) that dropped today about some previously private health struggles with Crohn’s disease. The 27-year-old details how teammate Trey Mancini’s abrupt colon cancer diagnosis before the 2020 season helped him pay more attention to his own health woes.
This introspection ultimately led Mullins down a path that included intestinal surgery in November 2020, severe weight loss, and a Crohn’s disease diagnosis that very well could have been career-derailing. That Mullins broke out last season— earning an All-Star nod, Silver Slugger, and the distinction as baseball’s only 30-30 player— is made all the more remarkable by the presence of a condition that so often proves debilitating. We at MLBTR tip our collective caps to Mullins for sharing his story and raising awareness for a condition that is growing in prevalence.
Some more uplifting news from around the league…
- Baseball America unveiled their 2022 Organization Talent Rankings today, with the Seattle Mariners claiming the top spot on this offseason’s installment. With talented youngsters like Julio Rodriguez, George Kirby, and Noelvi Marte forcing their way up the minor leagues and the Mariners fresh off a 90-win season, the time may be right to buy stock in the Mariners franchise. BA’s Kyle Glaser notes that 16 of the last 17 teams to claim the top farm system have reached the playoffs within two years of earning that distinction. The one team who bucked that trend, the 2011 Royals, took three years, reaching the World Series in 2014 and winning it in 2015. This history may prove to be of huge import for Seattle fans, who are now 20 years removed from their last playoff appearance.
- Jon Heyman of MLB Network lent more credence to the idea that a universal DH will be included in the next CBA, stating (via Twitter) “Barring something totally unexpected, it can be assumed at this point that the universal DH will be in place in 2022”. Heyman adds that both the player’s union and league are in favor of implementing the rule, though there is some disagreement about which party will benefit more from having a DH in the National League. We polled readers back in December to gauge how a universal DH would be received, with 62% of readers expressing enthusiasm, 26% expressing disdain, and another 12% expressing indifference to the change.
Appears that both sides realized they both wanted the Universal DH, so it no longer became a negotiating issue. In the past, the owners wanted the players to give a concession, which the players rightly said no deal. They knew management wanted it too. I actually believe owners and Manfred wanted the Universal DH more than the players at this stage. It’s important to Manfred that both leagues play by the same rule as he likely wants to implement so realignment, especially before MLB expands again.
I always liked that the leagues were different.
Nobody has really asked me though. So.
Yeah I grew up and still am a fan of an NL team and wanted the DH to stay in the AL only not because I like watching pitchers hit or that I think you should have to play in the field to be able to bat (seriously why hasn’t an 8 man lineup ever been proposed). I wanted the DH to stay away from the NL simply because it’s weird that both leagues have a different set of rules/roster construction and baseball should stay a little weird.
Exactly!
Rosters expanding in September. No sport does that. & dropped 3rd strikes? Such a weird rule. There’s a lot of them. I liked the weird waiver trades, too.
It seems MLB is trying to imitate the NFL & NBA more & more. The problem is, right now the evolution of baseball is the football equivalent of “3 yards & a cloud of dust.” Which doesn’t always make for pleasant viewing.
I grew up with the DH. Rooted for Detroit before Seattle got a team. Not talking about the bogus Pilots. That wasn’t as bad as the middle finger when they stole our Sonics
Sorry fat fingers. I like the DH but like NL BB too. I say keep the NL the same but switch when in an AL park. Would get to see something different. I think the fans would like it.
Why do you want all sports to be the same?
If you know anything about this sports history, the different leagues have always had different rules. In baseball it will be weird that both leagues will have the same rules. It added to the league rivalry, which they also keep doing things to kill.
When did the NHL have different rules?
he evolution of baseball is the football equivalent of “3 yards & a cloud of dust.”
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To me, this is like the concerns about the modern shift to shifting, which has actually been around forever. Mickey Mantle was the king of the three-true-outcomes, with 1700+ Ks and walks, and 536 HRs.
And does anyone remember Ralph Kiner’s famous phrase about HR hitters?
And it really wasn’t that long ago when the fans were complaining about the lack of HRs.
And no one steals bases for the same reason why no one takes mid-range jumpers in basketball, and why no one drafts a running back early in the draft. There’s nothing nefarious here. Players from every sport continually study film and upgrade their game.
TTO guys are nothing new.
You’re right about that, @Brady.
However: lineups packed with those type of hitters are new. Teams & players both are selling out for power. Now: I certainly get why. It’s productive. The best thing a hitter can ever do in an AB is to hit a home run. But it gets…well, predictable. & – though not exactly boring – does lack pizzaz.
& shifting has been around since Ted Williams in the 50’s (see? Everything is the sox fault…), whom also pretty much advocated in his book for a TTO approach at the plate. But again, it’s the frequency of it – shifts on seemingly every pitch.
Look. I will watch the Yanks no matter what because I simply do. But the aesthetic of modern MLB ball has devolved in my opinion. Which obviously ain’t worth a whole helluva lot.
Seems like they are following the lead of other sports: Shorter games! More offense! Many home run! Now on Twitter!
Mantle struck out 17.3% of the time and walked 17.5%.
He also hit .298 in his career.
Compared to the K rates today, Mantle was a high contact hitter.
It’s interesting that Mantle carried the “K” stigma throughout his career when in reality he “ only” average 117 k’s per 162 season.
Not bad for a POWER guy with a .298 ba, , and 536 Hrs
AMEN Cats !
Seattle has had some pretty brutal “sports luck” or whatever, @compassrose. Not much of an NBA fan (hey – would you root for the Knicks?) but the Sonics was a raw deal. & that ’01 Mariners club is still the best team I can name that never won a pennant. & damn, Pete Carroll, just hand the damn ball to Lynch, man. No need for a passing play.
Your squad is in pretty good shape right now though. Definitely something going on in the Emerald City.
shifts on seemingly every pitch.
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Hockey, B-ball and FB shift on every play, but it is called zone defense.
You know what I like? I like when Rose played 45 feet away from HP when Rivers was at bar. Or when Keith Hernandez would play 45 feet away when the opposing batter was expected to bunt. But most of all, I loved when guys like Blair and Maddox played about 20 feet behind 2nd, daring the hitter to try to hit it over their head.
If I know that a hitter is going to hit the ball in a given spot, and I am told that I have to play in a different spot, just to give the batter a better chance, I am honestly offended.
Side story-I played schoolyard FB when we got too old to play real FB. I played up on defense, even though I had no speed. The only reason I could do so was because the guy that played deep behind me could diagnose every play and tell me where to go. He’d have me cover guys on deep routes that were twice as fast, because he knew they were decoys, You have to be able to play to expectations or there is no use for intelligence in sports.
The fact that Mullins has been dealing with Crohn’s disease and playing at such an elite level makes me that much more impressed with his skill-set and determination. Stay strong Cedric! MLB is such a better product with players like you shining on and off the field!
Mariners will find a way to mariner this up
That’s a saying usually reserved for the Mets
Out of curiosity, how many championships have the Mariners won? Wait a minute, let me Google? “Oops” World Series titles (0) Isn’t that special !
It’s comments like yours that really dumb this site down.
@Metsfan22 what was the ratio of laugh to cry as you posted that comment?
@Beans I’m fairly certain it was 57% Bobby Valentine cackling and 43% Wilmer Flores tears shedding.
That won’t age well in two years when the Mariners are really good and the Mets are, well, the Mets.
Hey we have a couple 49yo minor leaguers you can have. In return we want your top rated and 3rd rated plus one of your SPs. Seems fair to me. One side note the two minor leaguers are both in A ball as a BO catcher and grounds crew. Seems like your GM likes these sweet deals. Sorry we don’t have an over the hill cheater being paid too much to throw in. New owner good GM and skipper will be a new era for the Ms.
@Rose
It is good for baseball to have a Mets team willing to take on everyone else’s bad contract. They always seem to give back a couple top prospects in the exchange.
Mariner is not a verb. LOL Mets is a noun.
Misery loves company! I just love all these Mariners fans hating on the NY Metropolitans… I guess its a slow day in the office? or your jealous that the team has a real RICH owner who happens to be a die hard Mets fan… Lol keep trolling and hating !
Sure, why not. The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla, as well as Robinson Cano. Have some fun with that nugget.
Wishing the Mets the best coming off a 77-win season with baseball’s 16th-ranked farm system while the Seattle Mariners come off a 90-win season with baseball’s top-ranked farm system.
And they’ll still be a worse baseball team than the Mariners.
Your rich owner is about to drop 300m dollars on the team and you will still finish under 500. Yeah we’re SO jealous.
Hi. I apologize for not replying earlier but I would love to address your post. I am not trolling nor am I a hater. I wish no ill will on the Mets, Mets fans, Or the great city of NY. I was addressing a post of someone being critical of the team I root for with Mets in his name with a little snark and pointing out the color of his kettle. That’s a “proverbial idiom”. If he was a Mariner fan I would have posted something like “I prefer the term “”Bavasi’d”” or something like that.
As for you, I will point out that using “Championships” as a measure of a baseball franchise today is a weak argument at best and has nothing to do with the Mariners, the Mets, or what my or the OP comment. And I think I have probably been around for more Mets championships than you have. In fact I would wager a shiny Sacajawea dollar that you weren’t a twinkle in your daddy’s eye the last time the Mets won a World Series. Cheers.
The Mariners are going to be even more fun to watch going forward!
Already planning to do the coast starlight train from PDX-SEA-LA to catch some games. Hopefully, Portland Diamond Project isn’t a B.S. vanity project (fingers crossed).
I think we will be getting a DH, But I still think we have lost a baseball player, Now we have
8 BASEBALL PLAYERS and a PITCHER. I will miss the old way baseball was played in the 60’s and the NL.
I realize it’s almost certainly going to happen, but I’m not looking forward to the DH in the NL. While I’m probably in the minority, I enjoy watching pitchers hit – it’s how real baseball is played, IMO.
I’m with you. I don’t want the DH in the NL, but we clearly don’t always get what we want. Pinball baseball. Yay.
I think “I enjoy watching .085 hitters hit” is a poor reason for keeping the DH out of the NL, especially when combined with pitcher injuries while hitting.
I used to be on your side of the fence, but I just can’t find any good reasons to keep the DH out of the NL at this point. Stats are used in contract negotiations, and when the rules are skewed between leagues then so are stats and thus salaries.
I just can’t see ignoring all of that because it’s quirky and old school.
How about, double switches and other strategic managerial moves that will now be scrapped? Its more than just pitchers hit. Benches no longer matter, and managers can nap in the dugout… Oh joy…
Such an archaoc thought process that I continue to hear. Double switches are not exciting, not sure why people harp on that aspect of the game. They often times are inserting a lesser player so the pitcher doesn’t have to hit as often. So they eliminated the pitcher hitting all together. Should have been done decades ago.
Pitchers are bad at hitting and rarely get hurt trying to do it, so they shouldn’t have to do it, isn’t a great argument imo. I don’t care much about this one way or the other, I would just like to see both leagues be the same, but that idea leaves it open for things like a catcher DH. The amount of wear and tear they endure and the extra work required with pitchers detracts from their ability to work on hitting, etc. etc. etc.
Easy middle ground here.Add 1 roster spot to every team and keep the NL traditional.Win for purists and a win for the union adding 1 more salary to every team which is all the union cares about.
WHY would ownership agree to that?
Paywall, BA. AL East Fans:
Rays: 2nd
O’s: 4th
Sox: 11th
NYY: 13th
Jays: 19th
So happy about the universal DH. It makes so much more sense. This makes me as excited about this season as anything.
It’s also gonna make player movement much easier and more fun for us fans. More surprise moves!
For those that like the old days I get it. Back in the 60’s there were more decent hitting pitchers. But, that was long ago and now pitchers that get to the big leagues haven’t hit for many years. Scouts and teams don’t care at all if a pitcher can hit. Everything is specialization. Today, watching pitchers hit is like watching your offensive lineman try to kick a field goal. It’s just dumb and leads to more stupid things like batting your pitcher 8th. Good riddance!
Legit question since you used the NFL for comparison: should teams be allowed designated tacklers for the kicker? Kickers aren’t good defenders, so should there be a defensive guy that has to stand behind the tee in the event the KR breaks coverage?
It’s the same principle, to me. The argument for the DH seems to be take away making guys do things they aren’t good at. Okay, but plenty of athletes aren’t good at everything in their sports. That’s why you work at getting better to overcome it.
Hi. The NFL allows 11 players on each side of the line of scrimmage no matter what you call them, dl,wr,fs,rb. Teams have kickers kick because they are good at kicking. I have always enjoyed the difference between the AL/NL but I think Its time we let the kickers kick in the NL.
I think the NBA should adopt the designated free throw shooter. Why not just make it easy for everyone? That seems to be the mantra of the “now” generation.
miltpappas – Shaq approves your comment
This comment made me laugh, well done sir!
No one wants to see a pitcher hit. And no one wants to see Shaq shoot free throws. But everyone loves watching kickers get trucked or make the saving tackle!
Yes it impacts strategy. I’ll concede. But I still like watching skilled players do what they are best at.
It’s not about who hits, it’s about how pitchers not batting affects the strategy of the game. And they keep doing more, and more things to get rid of strategy in this game. And no, it’s not about double switches. It’s about when do you take your starter out of the game, and are you sacrificing 2 innings of Jacob Degrom for 2 innings of Trevor May. If we want to watch HR derby, let’s just make the game an hour of who can hit the most HR’s, and be done with it.
Being a colon cancer survivor almost 20 years ( docs think weed saved my life as they didn’t think I’d make it , but that’s a story for another day lol) I tip my hat to Cedric. Crohns is a tough one. Daily struggle. And Trey of course. Both heckuva an accomplishment after intestinal surgeries. Really amazing individuals.
Thanks Mr Poo
Agreed. Tip of the cap to Mullins. To not only battle that diagnosis, but to come out of the gate of receiving it by putting up that kind of performance is incredible. Hope he keeps up the success both on the field and off with his battle.
Congrats Mr. Poo (is the colon issue related to your name?).
I just lost a good friend to colon cancer. I’ve always had a couple of polyps when I go. My guess is that I could’ve had an issue had I not gone for my colonoscopy.
EVERYONE should have the occasional colonoscopy.
You guys are funny. Btw sorry about your friend.
Edp are my initials and because I’m big on Jags ( own a few XKR’s like used in the Bond movies ) my friends been calling me 007 for eons. Even my licence plates are “ Edp007” … so the funny thing , when my daughter was about 8 ( way back) one day she says “ Daddy why did u put Ed Poo on your plate? “ lol that was the first time I heard that. You guys take me back to memories when my 24 adult was an innocent child. Thank you heart warming
Thanks for that explanation. I am 51 with the humor of a 12-year-old sometimes.
I am so excited about my Mariners. It’s been a long time coming, but these young studs need to stay healthy, and Jerry needs to HIT when he pays up in FA next couple years or makes any more big trades
If we can get some luck to help us out with these two major points, we’re gonna be an excellent squad.
I personally like a wholesome good feeling story compared to all the negative crap on the news and front pages of the newspapers.Terrific news works for me.
Would love to see the Mariners finally make it to the postseason and win a series. Being a Marlins fan I enjoyed watching Ichiro and King Felix since a team all the way in Seattle didn’t affect my NLEast. I paid slight attention to them and their farm and every year I keep thinking they may break out and surprise people…. And they find a way to fake. But with the amazing fun they went on to make their season exciting and the moves I’m sure they will make post lockout should finally get them there.
As someone who has dealt with Crohn’s Disease I know what Cedric is going through. I’ve had two surgeries and an adverse drug reaction that has led to neuropathy. I can only imagine what Cedric has had to do to succeed in baseball while battling Crohn’s. His on field accomplishments are outstanding. Having done what he’s done while battling Crohn’s is utterly amazing. Thank you for sharing your fight. You are an inspiration to all of us and especially to the young people fighting this disease
@stgpd may your daily struggle be easy as can be
I’ve come around to the DH. Used to be a non-Dh purist. It makes interleague games more watchable, IMO.
Oh, right…I stopped watching baseball because TTO is boring AF so I forgot they were going install the universal DH.
I keep hoping they’ll try to fix the game (not like Stephen Ross) but Major League Hit The White Ball With The Stick commissioner Rob Manfred thinks it’s fine, I guess.
forwhomjoshbelltolled
Oh, right…I stopped watching baseball because TTO
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That’s why I stopped watching Mickey Mantle. Led the league in Ks 5x, walks 5x, and HRs 4x. Same with Reggie Jackson. Same with Mike Schmidt.
I wonder if those players knew how boring they were?
Buddy, if you enjoy Hit The White Ball With The Stick…more power to you.
Let me know if baseball ever returns.
Just for argument’s sake Mantle’s career batting average was .298 and he stole 158 bases. Schmidt’s career avg was a less impressive but still solid .267 with 174 steals. Jackson comes in at .262 with 228 bags swiped. These guys did many things well. They weren’t limited to three true outcomes.
Universal DH allows total unification of both leagues leading to total realignment creating geographic divisions with Mets, Yanks, Boston, Phils, Pittsburgh, Washington for example. The game becomes more regional and travel costs go down.
Do ticket prices go down with the lowered travel costs?
sounds efficient. Less entertaining, but efficient.
And how is that good for the game, resident? I don’t want the Yankees and Mets playing every 3rd week. It takes away from the rivalry.. My problem with all the change in the last 30 years is it’s made the game less enjoyable. Smaller ballparks mean we get to see a trot around the bases instead of a guy trying to get to third. Pitchers not batting will remove strategy from the game. Important strategy at that. Do you only watch this game to see who can hit the ball over the wall the most? That’s tolerable once a year at the all star game, it’s not real baseball.
Not only is the Cedric Mullins part of this such a good news story, I love that you attached a link to Crohn’s Colitis Foundation’s website. Not only is important to share this good news, but its great to spread information about this health condition. Great work!
Watching a pitcher bat for 99% of them is one of the most unathletic things you’ll see in professional sports. It’s like watching a kicker do anything else (think Garo Yepremian in the super bowl), a hockey goalie skate out, or a big center run in basketball (Gheorge Muresan). That said they would have to clamp down on no-consequences head hunting.
Mullins is a great story. Now the Orioles can look even more heartless by trading them for “prospects” this year.
I’m an NL fan and always enjoyed watching pitchers “hit”. But since I saw Chien-Ming Wang lose his season to awkward base-running I began becoming a fan of a the DH.
Then why not teach pitchers from an early age how to run the bases? Or hit? Or do other things required of a professional athlete. Quarterbacks still have to run on occasion. Point guards have to do everything else on the court as any other player. Why is that pitchers are expected to do nothing other than be a pitching machine? These are athletes at the pinnacle of their profession and people treat them as if they incapable of running 90 feet or swinging a bat. Something that allow 8 year old kids to do. It’s just asinine. Yes, sometimes players will get hurt. That is what happened in a physical profession. It’s not a reason to change the whole game.
DH fans have the AL if they want to see that. But if the NL adopts the DH, where will fans of real baseball have to go? I don’t want to see the AL lose the DH, it is part of those teams’ identities. I just don’t understand why fans of AL teams are insistent on changing the NL rules. Just get rid of interleague play altogether and keep the leagues separate until the WS. It might make the All Star Game special again as well.
Pitchers know how to run the bases. Fans use anecdotal examples of one or two pitchers getting injured on the bases (players get injured on the bases sometimes) to drum up some nonsense about how it’s particularly dangerous for pitchers to be allowed to run the bases. It isn’t. Nonsense is all that is.
Why have a plumber, electrician, and carpenter build a house? One person should be able to do all three.
Congrats to Mullins for sharing his story. I think that makes it easier for us commoners start taking better care of ourselves.
After being deadset against the DH, I came to like it after watching our Indy ball team using it. Seems to give more excitement to the game having a hitter coming up vs. a pitcher that more than likely has limited hitting capabilities.
I’ve had Crohn’s Disease for more than 50 years. As one of my doctors said many years ago: “It’s a nasty illness.”
It’s been a long slow process to get this DH thing done; let’s just make it happen.
The pitcher hitting is a scenario unlike any other pro sport in the world rn
It’s like, let’s make the 7 foot center run the point and bring the ball up the court or let’s make the QB play LB and have him get try to engage 350 lb lineman
It’s outdated, it’s boring, it makes no sense. The AL has forced the hand here.
I think most of us AL kids (I’m 33 and grew up a diehard M’s fan) have basically been waiting for this forever. Anytime now….
I’m a National League fan, but I’ve always felt that the whole strategy thing was overblown. Double switches are not rocket science. I am strongly in favor of the DH. Both leagues should be the same plus who wants to watch pitchers hit?
One of the biggest benefactors here will be Nick Castellanos. One of the best hitters in baseball who is a defensive liability. I still don’t think he’ll get the 7-8 years Boras is looking for, but it’s a solid bet he’ll get 6 at around $125M
Let’s go Os! Not a good team at the moment, but a lot of young talent and exciting players. Looking forward to Mullins this year. Really hope they don’t trade him