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Greg Cullen Retires

Writer's picture: Grant DeVivoGrant DeVivo

Durable infielder spent three seasons in Orioles' Minor League organization


On Saturday, Orioles Minor League infield Greg Cullen announced his retirement from professional baseball, according to his player profile on MiLB.com. The 27-year-old had spent all of this season on the Norfolk Tides' injury list.


Born in Rochester, New York, Cullen did not initially begin his professional career with the Orioles organization. He was a 15th round pick out of Niagara University in 2018, and both he and fellow infielder AJ Graffanino joined the Orioles after the 2020 COVID-19 season to complete the Tommy Milone trade.


Infielder Greg Cullen has retired after three seasons in the Orioles' organization. Photo: Grant DeVivo

Cullen would spend an injury-marred 2021, his first season with his new organization, at three different levels. He spent time in the Florida Leagues, Low-A Delmarva, and Double-A Bowie, where he would hit .259 with an .827 OPS in a small 38 game sample size. The expectation for the following season was that he would serve as a regular infielder for the Baysox.


Unfortunately, the rest of his playing days in the organization would continue to be marred by injuries and Injured List stints. If he was not hit by the injury bug this season, he would have seen time in the Tides' infield.


However, when he got his playing time, he played extremely well.


Cullen paid off from the Orioles' new age defensive player development system, and he became a very versatile and athletic infielder primarily for the Baysox. He was able to fill in anywhere at second base, shortstop, or third base, and he filled in those spots very well. He saw the majority of his action at second base where he posted a respectable .974 fielding percentage. During his career, he also learned some outfield and first base.


As for offense, he was very reliable with the bat in his hands. He could hit for contact and do the small things with the bat, and he got on base a lot too which as a bottom-of-the-order hitter, was a perfect for the approaching top of the lineup. From 2022 to 2023, he hit .269 in 140 games and he posted OPS's of .823 and .797 in those two seasons respectively.


In the end, Cullen played 363 Minor League games in 5 seasons. He was a career .271 hitter with a .399 on-base percentage, a .400 slugging percentage, and a .799 OPS. He his 25 career Minor League home runs, amassed 324 career hits, 154 RBI, and 221 walks. He only struck out 266 times.


He got as high as Triple-A Norfolk, and he helped the Tides win the 2023 Triple-A championship title.


Cullen had a respectable career in the Orioles' system. He never stopped smilling, and he played hard the way the game should be played.


Best wishes, Greg!

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