![\"Baltimore](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_4342,h_2442\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/11\/01jykwe8cnas5008vt0g.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIt seems as if the Baltimore Orioles are already exploring their future at center field.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Baltimore Orioles have decisions looming about some key players, but not necessarily their strong core of young guys like Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson.<\/p>\n
As MLB’s trade deadline inches closer, center fielder Cedric Mullins’ name has been brought up in several conversations.<\/p>\n
The trade deadline is at the end of July, but Baltimore fans may get an answer before then, when the 2025 MLB Draft takes place on July 13th.<\/p>\n
In a recent mock draft by Bleacher Report, the Orioles are predicted to take Texas A&M superstar outfielder Jace LaViolette with their 19th overall pick.<\/p>\n
LaViolette certainly seems to be big league ready coming straight out of college, and it’s been documented how well Mike Elias and the Orioles organization have drafted in recent years.<\/p>\n
Orioles predicted to select Jace LaViolette in latest mock draft<\/strong><\/p>\n Here is the analysis BR writer Joel Reuter has on LaViolette and why he could be fast-tracked in Baltimore’s organization.<\/p>\n “LaViolette was one of the leading contenders to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 draft at the start of the spring after a sophomore season where he hit .305\/.449\/.726 with 29 home runs and 78 RBI while helping Texas A&M reach the College World Series finals. Swing-and-miss issues have sent his stock tumbling, and he ended up hitting .258 with a 25.2 percent strikeout rate this spring, but that was still accompanied by a healthy .427 on-base percentage and 18 home runs. The Orioles have never been shy about power-over-contact prospects, and the upside here is huge.”<\/em><\/p>\n The writing may already be on the wall for Mullins. According to ESPN, MLB insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel give a 70% chance of Mullins being moved before the July 31st trade deadline.<\/p>\n LaViolette may not be as sound a defender as Mullins, but he has a higher upside of having more power to all parts of the yard.<\/p>\n As Reuter outlined, the strikeout rate may be a bit of an issue at nearly 25%, but that is something the Orioles can certainly iron out as he develops within their organization.<\/p>\n Mullins is going to be one of the hot ticket items for most MLB contenders that intend on buying at the trade deadline, and need a solid center fielder.<\/p>\n Teams that come to mind are the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n Considering Mullins is set to be a free agent after this season, he may be sought out as a rental option, but would still likely cost a team at least a couple prospects that the Orioles can use to bolster their farm system once again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It seems as if the Baltimore Orioles are already exploring their future at center field. The Baltimore Orioles have decisions looming about some key players, but not… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":65090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n