The arrival of Cedric Mullins to the New York Mets before the trade deadline sparked excitement in the organization. The team was in dire need of a solution in center field, a position that had been dragging one of the lowest offensive productions in all of MLB. Mullins, despite not having his best season with the Orioles, seemed to be the ideal answer because of his speed, defense and experience as a leadoff hitter.
However, the reality has been very different. Since his arrival in Queens, the left-handed hitter has had serious problems adapting to opposing pitching. In 29 games with the Mets, his batting average dropped to .179 and his OPS plummeted to .568. What is most alarming is his current slump, as he has gone 21-0 in his last eight games. Although he remains solid defensively, his offensive contribution has been practically nil.
Carlos Mendoza analyzes Cedric Mullins’ offensive slump
During a press conference, Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ manager, was blunt about Mullins’ performance at the plate. Before the game against the Cincinnati Reds, Mendoza pointed clearly to the type of pitches that are affecting his center fielder.
I think Mullins is missing the fastballs. Sometimes he’s late. He fouls them off. He doesn’t square them up. He controls the strike zone, but I think he’s missing a lot of good pitches
This diagnosis had already been shared a month earlier, when he acknowledged that Mullins was “a little out of sync” and needed to regain rhythm, especially against fastballs. Although the manager maintains confidence in the player, patience is beginning to wear thin, especially with the Mets trying to remain competitive in the postseason race.
Mets’ mistake? Cedric Mullins’ future up in the air
Beyond his poor form, Mullins’ situation takes on a more delicate dimension considering his contractual future. The outfielder will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and what was supposed to be an audition to stay long-term in New York is turning into an argument to look elsewhere.
The fans, who initially celebrated his arrival, have lost confidence. The expectation was that Mullins would bring stability to a position orphaned of offensive production, but so far he has failed to show he is the solution and each hitless game makes his role in the Mets’ 2026 project look more compromised.
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