Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins will play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic – Reading Eagle

Cedric Mullins will represent more than the Orioles next year.

The Baltimore outfielder announced he will represent the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic while being taken to the microphone during the eighth inning of Sunday night’s Little League Classic.

“I was definitely surprised,” Mullins said, detailing how he was called into manager Brandon Hyde’s office this week along with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. “Didn’t know what was happening. They just told me, “Hey, Team USA is interested in you.” What are you interested in playing?”

Malins didn’t need time to think about his decision.

“It was an automatic yes,” Mullins said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing in my opinion, and I wanted to jump in.”

The World Baseball Classic will be held in March 2023, with the championship game scheduled for March 21 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. The four host cities are Miami, Phoenix, Taichung and Tokyo.

Mullins joins a roster that includes Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout and St. Louis Cardinals duo Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. Prior to Mullins’ announcement, only seven players had been confirmed for the squad. The other four are Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuth and outfielder Bryce Harper and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.

Former major leaguer Mark DeRosa was announced as the manager of Team USA this week as he looks to lead the USA to a second straight World Baseball Classic championship in his managerial debut.

Outfielder Adam Jones and outfielder Mychal Givens represented Baltimore on that roster in the 2017 championship, and Jones had a breakout game, robbing Orioles teammate Manny Machado of a home run.

“That’s the only WBC memory I can remember of him playing in it,” Mullins said. “Just knowing the energy that was there that day, just excited to be a part of it.”

Jones also appeared on the list in 2013, when the U.S. was eliminated in the second round.

Mullins has fallen short of last season’s heights, when he became the first Oriole to hit the 30-homer, 30-steal club. Mullins entered Sunday with 25 steals and 11 homers and a .733 OPS.

But before the 2023 season begins in Baltimore, Mullins will represent his country on the world stage.

“It’s just an honor. The whole country is on your back,” Mullins said. “It’s just one of those things you never forget.”

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