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Hope everyone had a great Jackie Robinson Day!

In today’s Windup: The Cubs hit pause on their third-base experiment, and Bryce Harper did a … thing? Also, Ken examines the future of Cedric Mullins in Baltimore, and we lead with news on what’s next for Kim Ng. I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal. Welcome to The Windup!

New Gigs: Kim Ng’s latest venture

Kim Ng has long been a trailblazer: youngest assistant MLB GM (1998), first woman to interview for a GM job (2005) and the first female GM of any major professional men’s sports team in North America when she took the job with the Marlins (November 2020). By 2023, Miami had made its first (full-season) playoff appearance in 20 years.

Ng was not around for the 2024 season. The Marlins wanted to hire a president of baseball operations who would rank above her. She had differences of opinion with owner Bruce Sherman, and she hadn’t been offered a multiyear extension. Rather than stay in a GM role with reduced influence, Ng, 56, walked away from the job and (though we didn’t know it at the time) baseball.

So what’s she up to now?

Ng will be the commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited softball league. It’s not AU’s first foray into softball, but 2025 will be the first year with set rosters and an impressive roster of coaches, including Lisa Fernandez, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman and Natasha Watley.

This season will be a tour, as each team plays 24 games in 12 cities, with an eye toward determining which might be good permanent homes for a league softball team in the future.

With the popularity of women’s sports on the rise, it seems the timing is right for such a league. With Ng at the helm, I think the odds of success have just gone up exponentially.

Ken’s Notebook: Baltimore, Mullins destined to part?

The ovation at the home opener caught him by surprise.

Cedric Mullins lined up behind the center-field wall at Camden Yards, waiting to be introduced for his ceremonial jog down the orange carpet, trying to lock in for the game. When his name was called — “batting seventh, in his eighth season with the Orioles” — he almost didn’t realize the crowd’s exuberant reaction was for him.

“I definitely felt the love from Baltimore,” Mullins said.

For his status as the longest-tenured Oriole. For his perseverance through early struggles and Crohn’s disease. For his role in restoring the franchise to prominence. And for the memories he has created in maintaining the Orioles’ rich tradition of center fielders.

Many in the sellout crowd also were savvy enough to recognize that the 2025 season quite possibly will be the last for Mullins in Baltimore, the final chapter for a speedy 13th-round pick who developed into an All-Star, Silver Slugger and highlight-reel center fielder.

Mullins, 30, is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. His agent, Robin Cope, says the Orioles have not initiated talks about an extension, adding, “I wish they would. He wishes they would.” Mullins, though, seems destined to meet the same fate as Austin Hays and Anthony Santander, two other longtime Orioles outfielders who were pushed out within the last year by younger talent.

The Orioles, unless they fall out of contention, would appear unlikely to treat Mullins the way they did Hays, whom they traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at last year’s deadline in a deal that brought them reliever Seranthony Domínguez. More likely, they will take the same approach with Mullins that they did with Santander, making him a qualifying offer and then losing him to free agency.

Santander’s heavily deferred five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays netted the Orioles the 31st pick in the draft, on top of the 30th choice they received as compensation for right-hander Corbin Burnes and their predetermined first-round selection at No. 19. Such picks are gold for the Orioles, who draft exceedingly well and, even under new ownership, will take their payroll only so far while playing in the game’s fifth smallest television market.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias declined to comment on what the future for Mullins might bring. Most of the extension talk with the team revolves around younger players. And one look at the club’s organization depth chart reveals why Mullins might be expendable.

Colton Cowser, the fifth pick in 2021, looms as a potential replacement in center field. Enrique Bradfield, the 17th pick in 2023 and No. 82 prospect in the game, according to The Athletic’s Keith Law, might be ready for center by 2026. Mullins, in theory, could move to a corner-outfield spot, particularly if Tyler O’Neill opts out after one season. But the Orioles still might prefer other options.

More here.

Shakeups: Cubs demote Matt Shaw

After the Cubs traded Isaac Paredes to the Astros and Alex Bregman spurned them for the Red Sox, the big question became: “Is Matt Shaw ready for this?”

Shaw, 23 years old and the Cubs’ first-round pick in the 2023 draft, didn’t exactly answer the question definitively this spring, hitting .208/.296/.250 (.546 OPS). But the Cubs gave it a go; Shaw was the Opening Day third baseman.

Eighteen games later, they’re pulling the plug on the experiment (for now). Shaw was hitting just .172 (.536 OPS) in 68 plate appearances, and he has been optioned to Triple A.

So, who will play third base now?

The roster moves weren’t limited to Shaw, by the way. After Nate Pearson and Eli Morgan combined to give up seven runs in a combined one inning of work on Monday night, both have been given a little timeout — Pearson was sent to Triple A and Morgan to the IL with an elbow impingement. Luke Little and Daniel Palencia were recalled from Iowa to take their place.

Cringe or Sweet?: Bryce Harper’s bat-themed gender reveal

I will start this section with a caveat: I do not enjoy gender reveals. This may be the most Old Man Opinion™️ I have (it’s either this or frowning upon coffee orders that take more than three words).

So I’m a little biased.

Prior to the Phillies’ game against the San Francisco Giants, Harper had equipment manufacturer Victus Sports deliver one pink and one blue bat to Citizens Bank Park. Harper then asked (Trea) Turner to have the honor of breaking the news by handing him the pink bat for a baby girl or the blue bat for a boy before his first plate appearance.

Turner, ever one for a good baseball prank, tried to throw Harper off by picking up the pink bat first before handing Harper the blue one.

For what it’s worth, Turner doubled ahead of Harper, who struck out swinging. I’m sure there will be some old-school grumps who will say something like, “Doing that in the middle of the game took Harper’s focus away from his at-bat.”

I do not share that particular Old Man Opinion™️. I just don’t like them as a concept. If you do, feel free to sound off on whether this was a cool one or not. At least it didn’t start a fire.

Handshakes and High Fives

Yesterday, we told you that Aaron Judge would be Team USA’s captain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. It now appears Fernando Tatis Jr. will be making his WBC debut for the Dominican Republic.

Speaking of Judge, he responded to Juan Soto’s claim that he’s being pitched differently now that the slugger isn’t hitting behind him in the lineup. Judge’s take? “He’s going to be just fine.”

Between two elbow surgeries and a life-threatening torn esophagus, Dustin May was away from a big-league mound for 22 months. He’s back, and he looks … great?

Last night’s Tigers-Brewers game featured a play I’ve never seen before in all my days watching baseball: First baseman Spencer Torkelson’s throw to second hit Brice Turang in the shoulder … and they still got the out.

Speaking of things I’ve never seen before: The Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes scored three runs on a bases-loaded walk. No, really.

Yankee for a day? Brendan Kuty tells us about the one day Bobby Witt Jr. spent in a Yankees cap. Meanwhile, the 2025 Yankees are glad to have Clarke Schmidt back.

Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow is on “Starkville” this week talking about the Dodgers’ culture, his free-agent pitch to players, watching Clayton Kershaw as a kid and more.

The Twins were already off to a pretty brutal start. Now everyone is getting hurt. Carlos Correa and Matt Wallner are the latest, and in Triple A, Jose Miranda strained his hand … grocery shopping.

The Savannah Bananas are coming to a TV near you — ESPN will broadcast some of their games.

Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Chad Jennings’ exploration of what Team USA’s dream team could look like for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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