Entering the 2022 season, outfield depth seemed like the true strength of the Orioles organization. Cedric Mullins was coming off of a Silver Slugger-winning 2021 season. Austin Hays was coming off of a September where he slashed .285/.352/.569 with 8 HRs and 22 RBIs. Anthony Santander was, well, Anthony Santander—a dependable switch-hitter with pop. And all of that was before you even got to talking about the depth in the minors.
While that depth in the minors has only continued to grow over the last year, confidence in the Orioles’ starting OF trio has somewhat waned. Mullins—somewhat predictably—regressed in 2022.