Cedric Mullins on DJ Stewart as his MLB debut arrives

As DJ Stewart gets ready to make his major league debut tonight, batting seventh and starting in left field for the Orioles, he will have a comfort level with the guy playing beside him. Cedric Mullins has a locker next to Stewart's in the Orioles clubhouse and starts in center tonight.

The two have played many games together in the same outfield. It started after both were selected in the 2015 draft and went to short season Single-A Aberdeen. They also played together in 2016 with Single-A Delmarva, in 2017 at Double-A Bowie and this year at Triple-A Norfolk.

"From the all the years that I've played with him, he's just a high-energy guy ready to get after it," Mullins said today of Stewart. "We have a lot of background with each other, so it will be a pretty comfortable situation with both of us being in the outfield. We kind of know each other's range and how we get to balls. Just knowing each other, I think, is going to bring a solid energy.

"He's a very confident dude that has been trying to reach this goal since he got drafted. Even before that. He fires on all cylinders and he can run well and steal bases, and he finds a way to get stuff done. So it's just a matter of him going out there and staying within himself."

Like Mullins, Stewart is a confident player and believes he can do well with his opportunity here this month.

"It's huge to have that belief in yourself," Mullins said of both of them. "There is a support system that we have from our families that they continue to provide for us up to this point. And then to come here and this team accepts us for who we are and what we bring to the table. That only adds on to that."

Mullins has had an edge on Stewart in their minor league stats. In 377 career games on the farm, Mullins has hit .274/.330/.450 with 41 homers, 77 steals, 171 RBIs and an OPS of 780. In 425 career games, Stewart has hit .250/.351/.412 with 49 homers, 61 steals, 213 RBIs and an OPS of .763.

The two players began their pro careers amid very different expectations, but both are here now. Stewart was the No. 25 pick in round one in 2015 out of Florida State and dealt with the pressure of being a top draft pick. Mullins flew more under the radar as the No. 403 overall selection in round 13 out of Campbell University.

"Different things we've had to deal with, like with the media and stuff like that. But each of us is the same when we first start off. Some may go to rookie ball or short-season to begin, but in the end, we all have to put up numbers to work our way though the ranks," Mullins said.

As of tonight, both Mullins and Stewart have done that. The Orioles have two parts of a homegrown outfield tonight when they host the Athletics.