Blab Sports
Cedric Mullins Leads MLB in Fly-Ball Rate, but Power Numbers Lag Behind
In a season that has been a study in contrasts, center‑fielder Cedric Mullins of the Tampa Bay Rays has become the most prolific flyer in Major League Baseball. With a 58.9 % fly‑ball rate—the highest in 3,658 qualified seasons since 2002—Mullins tops the league’s leaderboard, according to Sports Info Solutions (SIS). His launch angle averages 28.0 degrees, the greatest recorded since 2015, a figure that Statcast confirms.
Mullins’ ranking sits alongside Cal Raleigh (57.7 % with a 25.3 % home‑run rate), Frank Thomas (57.3 % with 17.4 % home‑run rate), and other notable hitters such as Aramis Ramirez, Tony Batista, and Joey Gallo. While those players combine high fly‑ball rates with significant power, Mullins’ home‑run percentage is only 6.1 %, the lowest among the top ten. His slugging percentage is among the lowest in his career, and his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) stands at 67—tied for the fourth‑worst mark in the game.
The mechanics behind the numbers paint a clear picture. Statcast data reveal a swing‑path tilt of 31 degrees, flatter than the league average, but an attack angle of 12 degrees, placing him in the 67th percentile. This combination of a flat swing path and a higher attack angle produces a steep bat angle at contact, a recipe for lifting balls into the air. Baseball Savant’s miss‑distance leaderboard shows that Mullins’ barrel is below the ball 34 % of the time (94th percentile) and above the ball only 6 % of the time (21st from the bottom), reinforcing the tendency to hit high.
Pitch‑level analysis adds nuance. In 2026, the average pitch Mullins puts into play is 2.24 feet above the ground—the third‑lowest mark of his career. Despite this relatively low launch point, his popup rate has risen across all pitch types. Mullins’ infield fly‑ball rate is 19.2 % (34th highest ever), and his non‑infield fly‑ball rate is 39.7 % (just outside the top 100). The data suggest that Mullins consistently elevates balls, but the lack of hard contact limits his power output.
Defensively, Mullins remains a reliable center‑fielder for the Rays. In 2026 he appears in 64 games, and his defensive metrics show a resurgence compared to earlier seasons. The Rays’ outfield also features Chandler Simpson, whose ground‑ball rate is 59.4 % (35th highest ever). The combination of Mullins’ high fly‑ball rate and Simpson’s ground‑ball emphasis creates a unique outfield dynamic.
Mullins’ offensive profile for 2026—average exit velocity 88.1 mph, hard‑hit percentage 30.9 %, wOBA .270, and barrel percentage 3.4 %—illustrates a player who is hitting the ball in the air but not with the power or hard contact that drives runs. The low hard‑hit rate and low slugging suggest that his offensive value may be limited for the remainder of the season.
As the Rays continue their regular season, Mullins remains a key contributor in the outfield, but his offensive output is below the expectations set by his 2021 All‑Star and Silver Slugger achievements. Management and coaching staff will likely monitor his approach at the plate, given the statistical mismatch between his high launch angles and low run production.
In summary, Cedric Mullins’ 2026 season is defined by the highest fly‑ball rate in the modern era and the highest launch angle since 2015, yet it is also marked by a low home‑run rate, low slugging, and a wRC+ that falls well below league average. The Rays’ offense will need to balance Mullins’ high‑fly approach with other power sources to remain competitive.
Mullins’ ranking sits alongside Cal Raleigh (57.7 % with a 25.3 % home‑run rate), Frank Thomas (57.3 % with 17.4 % home‑run rate), and other notable hitters such as Aramis Ramirez, Tony Batista, and Joey Gallo. While those players combine high fly‑ball rates with significant power, Mullins’ home‑run percentage is only 6.1 %, the lowest among the top ten. His slugging percentage is among the lowest in his career, and his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) stands at 67—tied for the fourth‑worst mark in the game.
The mechanics behind the numbers paint a clear picture. Statcast data reveal a swing‑path tilt of 31 degrees, flatter than the league average, but an attack angle of 12 degrees, placing him in the 67th percentile. This combination of a flat swing path and a higher attack angle produces a steep bat angle at contact, a recipe for lifting balls into the air. Baseball Savant’s miss‑distance leaderboard shows that Mullins’ barrel is below the ball 34 % of the time (94th percentile) and above the ball only 6 % of the time (21st from the bottom), reinforcing the tendency to hit high.
Pitch‑level analysis adds nuance. In 2026, the average pitch Mullins puts into play is 2.24 feet above the ground—the third‑lowest mark of his career. Despite this relatively low launch point, his popup rate has risen across all pitch types. Mullins’ infield fly‑ball rate is 19.2 % (34th highest ever), and his non‑infield fly‑ball rate is 39.7 % (just outside the top 100). The data suggest that Mullins consistently elevates balls, but the lack of hard contact limits his power output.
Defensively, Mullins remains a reliable center‑fielder for the Rays. In 2026 he appears in 64 games, and his defensive metrics show a resurgence compared to earlier seasons. The Rays’ outfield also features Chandler Simpson, whose ground‑ball rate is 59.4 % (35th highest ever). The combination of Mullins’ high fly‑ball rate and Simpson’s ground‑ball emphasis creates a unique outfield dynamic.
Mullins’ offensive profile for 2026—average exit velocity 88.1 mph, hard‑hit percentage 30.9 %, wOBA .270, and barrel percentage 3.4 %—illustrates a player who is hitting the ball in the air but not with the power or hard contact that drives runs. The low hard‑hit rate and low slugging suggest that his offensive value may be limited for the remainder of the season.
As the Rays continue their regular season, Mullins remains a key contributor in the outfield, but his offensive output is below the expectations set by his 2021 All‑Star and Silver Slugger achievements. Management and coaching staff will likely monitor his approach at the plate, given the statistical mismatch between his high launch angles and low run production.
In summary, Cedric Mullins’ 2026 season is defined by the highest fly‑ball rate in the modern era and the highest launch angle since 2015, yet it is also marked by a low home‑run rate, low slugging, and a wRC+ that falls well below league average. The Rays’ offense will need to balance Mullins’ high‑fly approach with other power sources to remain competitive.
