Two of the more intriguing players in the Orioles’ minor league system are outfielder Cedric Mullins and left-handed pitcher Keegan Akin.
For the first part of this season, they were teammates with the Double-A Bowie Baysox before Mullins was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk last week thanks to a .316 average, .879 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, six homers and eight steals.
A 13th round pick out of Campbell University in 2015, the 23-year-old, switch-hitting Mullins is now on the doorstep of the big leagues. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the majors this season, maybe fairly soon.
Meanwhile, Akin, 23, didn’t exactly set the world on fire last season at High-A Frederick, posting a 7-8 record and a 4.14 ERA in 21 starts with the Keys. A second-rounder in 2016 out of Western Michigan University, Akin went to the Arizona Fall League and impressed with a 2.76 ERA in nine outings.
And he’s carried that momentum over this year, going 5-4 with a 2.97 ERA in his first 10 starts with Bowie. He’s still learning to pitch, but a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk at some point this year certainly isn’t out of the question.
Our own Double-A Bowie standout, Adam Pohl, sat down with Mullins and Akin last month and talked to them about their professional progression and things they have done to put them so close to the majors.
Pohl, the voice of the Baysox and the host of BaltimoreBaseball.com’s Minor League Podcast, captures the work ethic and intensity of both Mullins and Akin in these interviews.
Check it out.
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Let's promote Akin, he seems like the real deal and if our minor league instructors haven't screwed up maybe he will be impervious to being screwed up by the ML coaches too?
Trying to anticipate the "he's not on the 40 man roster" lame comments...well why the heck isn't he on the 40 man roster??? Why is Chris Lee on the 40 man roster? His stats blow chunks. Why hasn't Chris Tillman been released? He is done playing and should move onto coaching. Why is Gabriel Ynoa on the 40 man roster? Can't be because of his 1.51 MLB WHIP...
The bearded wonder Cashner and Gausman may respond to stint in the bullpen.
Move it! Shake it! Come on Dan, the entire organization needs a super loud wake up call!!!
DJ Stewart, when he is healed up, should be added to the 40 man roster. Release Rasmus (why, Dan, why?) or Gentry (he deserves a playoff run before he retires). Stewart has 0.363 OBP at Norfolk and had an awesome 0.378 OBP at Bowie, that's what the Os need and NOW!
To finish of an awesome three post day, Cedric Mullins A and AA stats are projecting to a 0.295 MLB OBP, not good enough to turn the ship around.