BALTIMORE -- When Cedric Mullins thinks back to his first home opener for the Orioles, he remembers the weather. It was a chilly, cloudy afternoon at Camden Yards on April 4, 2019, as many are this time of year in Baltimore. He also still recalls the feeling in his stomach that day.
¡°Just the absolute nerves that I was carrying,¡± said Mullins, who had only 51 games of MLB experience at the time of his first run down the O¡¯s ceremonial orange carpet.
A lot was different about Monday. Not only the weather -- a perfect first-pitch temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit -- but Mullins¡¯ standing in the Orioles¡¯ organization.
He¡¯s no longer a lesser-known youngster trying to earn his spot in the big leagues (one he had to get back after a demotion back to the Minors during that 2019 season). Mullins is the leader now, a 30-year-old center fielder who is the longest-tenured player on Baltimore¡¯s roster.
¡°He¡¯s a captain out there,¡± fellow outfielder Tyler O¡¯Neill said.
Mullins got the type of reception a captain deserves before the Orioles¡¯ 2025 home opener got underway Monday afternoon. Most of the 45,002 fans in attendance rose to their feet and showered him with cheers during player introductions.
Then, Mullins thanked them with a two-hit, four-RBI performance that powered Baltimore to an 8-5 victory over Boston amid a raucous atmosphere.
¡°It felt great. I felt excited for the guys that are experiencing it for the first time. I kept hyping them up, and the fans did not disappoint,¡± said Mullins, an eight-year big league veteran. ¡°It was really cool. Almost to the point where it was like dull, because I was just trying to zone in. Just taking a step back, enjoying the moment, having some fun with it.¡±
There¡¯s a possibility this was the last Baltimore home opener for Mullins, who is in the final year of his contract. He used to share the O¡¯s outfield with Austin Hays and Anthony Santander and has since seen them both leave -- Hays getting traded to the Phillies last July and Santander signing with the Blue Jays in January -- as younger players have come up and taken over.
That¡¯s not important at the moment, though, because Mullins is hoping to lead the 2025 Orioles to a third straight postseason appearance and their first World Series championship since 1983. So far, he¡¯s doing everything he can to guide the team to success.
¡°Ced¡¯s playing with a ton of life right now,¡± said Brandon Hyde, who has been Baltimore¡¯s manager since Mullins¡¯ second season in 2019. ¡°He¡¯s playing really, really good baseball and taking great at-bats. Our best baseball¡¯s always been when Ced¡¯s going.¡±
At the moment, Ced is certainly going. The former All-Star and Silver Slugger is batting .350 (7-for-20) with 10 RBIs and a 1.109 OPS in five games. Mullins has a pair of homers, both of which came in Baltimore¡¯s Opening Day win at Toronto last Thursday.
In Monday¡¯s home opener, Mullins capped a four-run rally in the first inning with a left-on-left two-run double into the right-center-field gap off Boston starter Sean Newcomb. Then, Mullins also contributed to a four-run eighth with a two-run single that broke the game open, pushing the O¡¯s lead to 7-3.
¡°He came into camp [this spring] and I told him many times, ¡®It¡¯s the best I¡¯ve seen you early in the season in a long time,¡¯¡± hitting coach Cody Asche said. ¡°And it¡¯s a big year for Ced, too. I think he knows what¡¯s at stake going into a free-agency year. He¡¯s out to prove who he is and who he has been.¡±
Mullins can enjoy the ride at the same time. He understands the unique specialness that comes with the first game played at Camden Yards each season, and he soaked it all in again this year.
The positive vibes remained high all day at the picturesque ballpark.
After O¡¯s players were introduced, Baltimore native/American Idol contestant Gabby Samone sang a rousing rendition of the national anthem. Four University of Maryland basketball stars threw out ceremonial first pitches.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore cheered on, then stopped over at nearby Pickles Pub to dole out some orange crushes.
And then, the Orioles won, improving to 3-2 on the young season with their third scoring output of eight-plus runs over the first five games.
¡°The excitement, the anticipation of getting out there -- that really doesn¡¯t change year to year,¡± Mullins said. ¡°Just understanding that once the ump says, ¡®Play ball,¡¯ then everything kind of settles down and you go back to business as usual.¡±
For Mullins, taking care of that business could lead to an impressive year.
¡°He plays the game hard, he¡¯s really confident in himself, but also he shows up every day with something to prove,¡± Asche said. ¡°And I think he¡¯s done that his whole life.¡±