Mullins arrived Friday about 2 1/2 hours before first pitch and was activated on the roster but not inserted into the starting lineup.

The addition of Mullins created a chain reaction. When the Mets activated Mullins for Friday’s game, they sent rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña to Triple-A Syracuse. And while Taylor started in center field on Friday, he is primed to lose playing time with Mullins in the mix.

As a new member of the New York Mets, Cedric Mullins already seems to have a clear sense of what his mission is—not just for this season, but for the rest of his time with the organization.