ST. PETERSBURG - Cedric Mullins may describe himself as “a quiet person by nature,” but his work in the community has spoken loudly enough to make him the Rays’ nominee for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award.
The veteran center fielder was honored at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night during a pregame ceremony as Tampa Bay joined MLB in observing Roberto Clemente Day. The award, presented annually to the player who best reflects the game through character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field, will be handed out during the World Series. Each of the 30 clubs submits one nominee.
For Mullins, the recognition fits the path he’s been on since arriving in Tampa Bay as a free agent last offseason. He said his approach has always been shaped by people who helped him along the way.
“I think it's really cool,” Mullins said. “I have, over the course of the seasons, been chipping away at just helping others. Along this path, my journey, it's kind of been the case for me -- someone along the way has chipped into where I'm at today -- and I just always want to give back and give it forward.”
That mindset showed up early after he joined the Rays. During Spring Training, Mullins started talking about how he could plug into the local community and find meaningful ways to contribute.
This season, he has pledged $150 to Burg Baseball Inc. for every stolen base. Burg Baseball is a youth league in St.
Petersburg focused on removing financial barriers for underserved kids who want to play. Mullins said that mission hit home because of the cost of the sport.
“Baseball can be a very expensive sport, and I want to be able to create opportunities for kids to not only enjoy the game but to be able to participate in it,” he said. “You never know how far that can go.”
He has also committed $50 to Water Mission for every hit. The global engineering nonprofit builds safe water solutions in developing countries, and Mullins said the cause came to him through Big League Impact. His interest was immediate.
“Clean water seems like a basic human right and need,” he noted.
With those pledges and matching support from the Rays Up Foundation, both Burg Baseball and Water Mission are projected to receive $20,000 in total donations this season, according to the Rays.
Mullins was also awarded a $7,500 MLB Charities grant as the Rays’ Clemente nominee, and he chose to direct it to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Central & Northeastern Florida Chapter. The organization works toward a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis while also trying to improve life for people living with them.
That choice carries personal weight. Mullins was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2020 and had intestinal surgery that November.
He kept that private until March 2022, when he finally revealed it after waiting so then-teammate Trey Mancini could have the full spotlight in his return to the Orioles following colon cancer surgery and chemotherapy.
After going public, Mullins said he learned just how many people are affected by Crohn’s disease. Now he wants his own story to help others, especially young players who may think the diagnosis closes the door on their dreams.
“I just thought it was important to give back, especially to younger kids who are pursuing baseball as well who think that Crohn’s is a stopping point for them,” he said.
Mullins and his wife, Erika, have also stayed active in other volunteer efforts this season, and he said their work is “definitely a team effort.”
He has spent time with children through the Rays’ “Magic Monday” and “Tuesday’s Champion” programs, visited the Ronald McDonald House, taken part in the “Rays on the Runway” charity fashion show and hosted students from Poynter Institute’s Write Field Program on Jackie Robinson Day in April.
In Other News...
Rays Just Took A Crucial Step Toward Their Forever Home
The Rays took another meaningful step toward their new ballpark future with the announcement of a long-term partnership with Legends Global, a move that gives the club a major outside player on the business side of the project. Legends Global will serve as the owners representative and handle sponsorships, premium seating and suite sales for the stadium scheduled to open in 2029, which is set to be called the Forever Home and rise near Tampas Westshore District.
For a franchise that has spent years living with uncertainty about where it would ultimately play, the deal helps put more structure around the next phase of the ballpark effort. Legends Global will also handle project management services, and the company has tapped Todd Fleming as senior vice president and project lead, signaling that the Rays are now moving deeper into the practical work of turning the long-promised stadium into something real. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Enter Yankees Series With One October Question Looming
With a five-game cushion over the Yankees and seven games left in the regular season, the Rays head into a series that should say plenty about how they want October to look. Tampa Bay has built its edge by staying ahead in the AL East, but the next few days still matter because the club is balancing a division race with the bigger question of how to line up its postseason pitching.
The rotation conversation is already starting to hover around Shane McClanahan, and the Rays are also keeping one eye on health and bullpen depth as the playoff picture comes into focus. A competitive series is expected, and for Tampa Bay the priority is simple enough: protect the lead, keep the staff in one piece, and avoid leaving any lingering uncertainty for the month ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Mesa Jr. Just Became A Rays Story Fans Can't Ignore
Victor Mesa Jr. has quietly turned into one of the more notable additions the Rays have made this season. Since arriving in late May, he has carved out a real role over 70 games, enough to earn American League Player of the Week recognition and put himself among the teams most productive players by WAR. For a club that values versatility and impact wherever it can find it, Mesa has supplied both with his bat and his glove, even while dealing with injury interruptions along the way.
Kevin Cash and the Rays staff have taken notice of the way Mesa has fit in, praising his talent, instincts and the energy he has brought to the group. The bigger question now is how much more there is to come once he settles in fully and stays on the field, because his production has already made him more than just a midseason add-on. For Tampa Bay, he has become the kind of player whose progress is worth watching closely, especially with the way he has changed the conversation around the roster. [Read more 🡒]