Cedric Mullins II homers, drives in three Saturday

Mullins' late-inning heroics help Tampa Bay Rays defeat Pittsburgh Pirates

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:37am

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An extreme close-up of Cedric Mullins II's baseball bat making contact with the ball, captured in a vibrant, expressionist painting style with bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that convey the raw power and energy of the moment.Cedric Mullins II's late-inning heroics propel the Tampa Bay Rays to victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.Today in Pittsburgh

Cedric Mullins II, the Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, went 2-for-5 with a go-ahead two-run home run in the 13th inning to help the Rays defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 on Saturday. Despite his strong performance, Mullins has struggled at the plate so far this season, batting just .149 with a .284 slugging percentage.

Why it matters

Mullins is a key part of the Rays' lineup, and his ability to produce at the plate is crucial to the team's success. His late-game heroics on Saturday could be a sign that he is starting to turn things around after a slow start to the season.

The details

Mullins hit a two-run home run in the 13th inning to give the Rays the lead, which they would hold on to for the victory. This came after he went 1-for-18 in March and is currently batting just .149 with a .284 slugging percentage in the early part of the 2026 season.

  • Mullins hit the go-ahead home run in the 13th inning on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Through the first few weeks of the 2026 season, Mullins has struggled at the plate, going 1-for-18 in March and batting .149 with a .284 slugging percentage in April.

The players

Cedric Mullins II

An outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays who hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the 13th inning to help the team defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Major League Baseball team that Cedric Mullins II plays for, who won Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Major League Baseball team that lost to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

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What they’re saying

“Despite the big day, he needs to show more consistency at the plate before he is worth considering claiming off waivers.”

— Nicholas Rodriguez, Rays Correspondent

The takeaway

Cedric Mullins II's late-game heroics on Saturday show that he has the potential to be a key contributor for the Tampa Bay Rays, but he will need to improve his consistency at the plate in order to solidify his role on the team.