When it comes to the outfield situation for the Orioles, the big question on everyone’s mind is: Who will see more starts in center field next season, Cedric Mullins or Colton Cowser? While the surface-level answer seems straightforward enough—Mullins has been the consistent presence in center—it gets interesting when you dig a little deeper.

Mullins put in a solid 121 starts in center field this past season, establishing himself as the primary choice. In contrast, Cowser took on 36 in center but was mainly stationed in left for 91 games, and made six appearances in right.

So, for now, it looks like advantage Mullins.

Looking ahead, Mullins is likely to remain the go-to center fielder into 2025, having been tendered a contract with a projected salary of $8.7 million according to MLBTradeRumors.com. However, his grip on the starting spot might falter a bit when opponents put a left-hander on the mound.

Mullins struggled against southpaws last season, hitting just .196 with a .506 OPS over 63 games. Cowser, finishing as the runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year, didn’t knock it out of the park against lefties either but fared slightly better, averaging .224 with a .661 OPS.

Cowser is proving to be a workhorse, too, with 153 games played, putting him just behind Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander in game appearances. Mullins followed closely with 147 games, a step up from his injury-restricted 116 appearances the previous year.

As the Orioles strategize for the coming season, the need for a right-handed bat looms large. They have the option to re-sign Santander or seek an alternative right-handed hitter.

With Austin Slater, who’s now a White Sox player, previously serving as the extra outfielder against left-handed pitchers, there might be a gap to fill there as well, especially given Heston Kjerstad’s different skill set. Daz Cameron is back on the roster, but the competition remains open.

The Orioles’ roster plans for 13 position players. The infield looks stacked with Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Ramón Urías, and Jorge Mateo in the mix.

Two catcher spots bring the count to nine, leaving space for four outfielders. Could Mateo see an uptick in center field starts beyond his recent limited appearances there?

It’s possible, considering his past experience, including a short stint in left with the Padres.

Now, steering back to the original query, Mullins seems poised to take the lion’s share of starts in center field over Cowser.

Switching gears to the Rule 5 draft landscape, it’s worth noting that 36 Orioles are in the eligible pool, though not on the 40-man roster. Among them, Tyler Burch is highlighted, anticipating exposure in the Triple-A phase rather than having to stick to a Major League roster for the season. Burch, still on Double-A Bowie’s roster post-injury from elbow surgery, made a comeback with solid performances across various levels, including the Arizona Fall League.

Intriguingly, a scout from another organization has expressed interest in Burch. Since joining the Orioles’ system from a 2021 trade involving veteran Freddy Galvis, Burch has shown potential worth watching. His upper-90s fastball is drawing eyes, setting the stage for what could be an intriguing off-season storyline for the Orioles.