Mullins scores a run in All-Star Game

Cedric Mullins was able to serve as a leadoff hitter tonight in the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver. Just in a different manner than his usual role with the Orioles.

Batting ninth in the American League's order but the first to the plate in the top of the third inning.

Mullins struck out against the Brewers' Corbin Burnes and watched from the dugout as the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a long home run to left field for a 2-0 lead. But he got one more chance in the fifth, reached on a fielding error by Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford and scored a run.

Playing in his first All-Star Game and a late addition to the lineup, Mullins went 0-for-2 before the Rangers' Adolis García replaced him in center field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mullins would have led off the seventh.

Burnes was working his second inning in relief of National League starter Max Scherzer, who retired the side in order with a strikeout in the first. Mullins fell behind 1-2 on three cutters, fouled off a slider and swung through a 95.3 mph cutter.

The Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernández doubled off Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers leading off the fifth and Mullins followed with a ground ball up the middle that Crawford bobbled. Mullins initially was credited with an infield single but the official scorer changed it to an error.

The Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts poked a two-out single into right field to score Mullins and give the AL a 4-0 lead. Phillies catcher JT Realmuto hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning.

Mullins fell behind again 1-2 before grounding a slider behind second base. With Mullins' speed, it's questionable whether Crawford would have gotten the out.

At least Mullins reached. And he can look back fondly on his first run.

Mullins replaced the Angels' Mike Trout in the starting lineup and center field. He received the most player votes among outfielders after finishing sixth in the fan balloting with 10 percent.

The first ball hit in Mullins' vicinity came with one out in the third when the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. flied to right-center. Mullins had his first All-Star putout.

Mullins was on deck with two runners on base and one out in the top of the second inning when Hernández grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Adam Jones was the last Orioles outfielder to make the All-Star team in 2015. Mark Trumbo was a designated hitter the following year, when he also participated in the Home Run Derby.

The Orioles have sent only one player for the fourth time in a row. There was no All-Star Game last summer due to the pandemic.

Pitcher John Means represented the Orioles in 2019, shortstop Manny Machado in 2018 and second baseman Jonathan Schoop in 2017. Machado was chosen this year as an injury replacement and kept offering encouragement to Trey Mancini last night in the Derby.

The 2022 All-Star Game will be held at Dodger Stadium.

Mullins enters Friday night's series opener in Kansas City batting .314/.380/.541 with 23 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 35 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He has a 3.7 WAR per Baseball-Reference.com.

Note: The three-day draft is over and the Orioles selected 12 position players and nine pitchers, with 20 of their picks being college athletes.

The Orioles selected nine right-handed pitchers, six outfielders, four infielders and two catchers.

"In terms of the underslot/overslot discussion, I'll do the best I can to stay mum as negotiations are still ongoing," said supervisor of domestic scouting operations Brad Ciolek. "I will say, though, that we did take a lot of sophomore-eligibles yesterday, which obviously have that extra year of eligibility, and that also in some cases can add to increased leverage. We did take a junior college kid in the 20th round, Trendon Craig. So obviously, there might be some things we need to iron out there as well.

"Without tipping my hand too much, we're looking to utilize a very large percentage of our pool and don't be surprised if there are some guys that are overslot."