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Cedric Mullins of the Orioles leaves the game due to a left quadriceps injury

The Orioles are struggling, but so far they've managed to keep the mounting injury tally from completely ruining their season. The list added another name Friday night when Cedric Mullins exited with a left quad injury.

“I hope it's just a matter of day to day,” manager Brandon Hyde said.

Colton Cowser, who hit a home run and scored two runs in the win, moved from left field to center to replace Mullins at the start of the fifth inning. Austin Slater came off the bench to play left field and take Mullins' 6th spot in the batting order.

Mullins was 0-for-1 in his two batting appearances with a walk and a strikeout before leaving the game. He also made a spectacular catch in the outfield when he ran into the gap to left to catch a cutting liner from Mauricio Dubón to end the second inning. Mullins covered 77 feet while running at an average sprint speed of 27.7 feet per second, according to Statcast.

“It was an incredible catch,” said Hyde. “I don't know if he [got hurt] in this game or not, but it saved a run.”

Mullins was shown on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network telecast talking with head coach Brian Ebel after throwing a strikeout in the fourth inning. Mullins remained in the dugout while Slater jogged into the outfield to replace him.

The 29-year-old outfielder has been on a resurgence and has been one of the few Orioles hitters to find success while the offense continues to falter. Mullins entered Friday with a .286 batting average and an .855 OPS since June 12, a 58-game streak in which he was close to his 2021 All-Star total.

Triple-A outfielder Daniel Johnson was replaced by a pinch hitter after two at-bats in Friday's Norfolk game, just minutes after Mullins left the field. Johnson, who is not on Baltimore's 40-man roster, has a .269 batting average with 20 home runs for the Tides this season and could replace Mullins if he is sidelined. Johnson last played in the major leagues in 2021 for the Cleveland Guardians.

Cowser has played 37 games in midfield this season and Slater has played 232 games there over the course of his career.

Mullins' 2023 season was hampered by lower-body injuries. He spent nearly a month on the injured list with a right groin strain, only to land back on the injured list just three weeks after returning. His 116 games last season were the fewest of his career since becoming a starter.

The veteran outfielder also missed this year's spring training due to right thigh discomfort. He was ruled out of a test game and had to sit out nearly two weeks.

While the Orioles' pitchers have borne the brunt of the team's injuries this season (the latter being newcomer Zach Eflin, who was signed shortly before the trade deadline), the club's outfielders have also been hit hard.

All-Star third baseman Jordan Westburg is still on the injured list after breaking his hand in a hit-by-pitch in late July. Jorge Mateo, who has been a second baseman for most of the season, is still out after dislocating his elbow late last month. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle left Thursday's game in the ninth inning with a sore wrist from a slide earlier in the game and did not play Friday.

The Orioles seem to be hoping Mullins' injury is not serious. There are replacements on and off the current roster, but none could fill the void Mullins would leave as the club enters the most critical stretch of the season.

Originally published:

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