There have been moments throughout Cedric Mullins’ career when he’s been an above-average player in Major League Baseball.
Unfortunately for the New York Mets, after acquiring him in a deal with the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, it’s been the total opposite.
Mullins has posted a 0.0 bWAR, hitting .178 with a 63 OPS+. This is by far the worst he’s played throughout his entire career, with many questioning if he can handle the bright lights of New York City.
For the Mets, however, it’s more than just Mullins struggling. Not only did they trade for him to be a big piece of this organization for the last couple of months of the regular season, but with some of the injuries they’ve dealt with throughout the year, they really need Mullins to step up.
Why has Cedric Mullins struggles with the Mets?
Unfortunately, to say that hasn’t been the case would be putting things lightly.
The question remains as to what the problem is, and some in the Mets organization believe they might’ve found it.
“I think missing fastballs. Late at times. Fouling them off. Not being able to square them up,” skipper Carlos Mendoza said of Mullins, per the New York Post. “Controls the strike zone, but I think he’s missing a lot of good pitches to hit.”
Hitting in Major League Baseball is tougher to do than anything in professional sports.
However, factoring in that Mullins is missing fastballs over the heart of the plate makes things even more difficult.
If he can work himself into favorable counts, hit fastballs early in counts, and just do what he’s done for most of his career, he should be fine.
The early return hasn’t been great for the Mets, and time is running out.
