Carmen Mlodzinski is integral to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pipeline of developing pitchers, representing both the team’s current capabilities and its future aspirations. Following a period of internal reflection, Mlodzinski has aligned his objectives with the organization’s vision, demonstrating a commitment to contributing to a winning culture in Pittsburgh.
Core Pitching Talent
*Paul Skenes (drafted 2023); Mitch Keller (drafted 2014); Jared Jones (drafted 2020); Braxton Ashcraft (drafted 2018); Bubba Chandler (drafted 2021)
The Pirates selected Mlodzinski with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, hailing from the University of South Carolina. After progressing through the minor league system, he made his major league debut on June 16, 2023. His initial appearance saw him enter the game in the sixth inning against the Brewers, tasked with limiting a deficit. While he recorded a strikeout to begin his MLB career, he also allowed a home run before completing his outing.
His first major league start occurred approximately one month later, on July 9th. In this outing, he pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering one run due to a throwing error by catcher Austin Hedges. He concluded the 2023 season with 25 additional relief appearances.
The 2024 season saw Mlodzinski begin with ten relief appearances before transitioning to a starting role on June 8th. He made three more starts over the remainder of the year, in addition to 28 relief outings.
Mlodzinski commenced the 2025 season as a full-time starting pitcher, taking the mound in the first inning for his initial nine assignments. During this period, his record stood at 1-4 with a 5.67 earned run average, though his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) was a more favorable 4.35. The Pirates subsequently optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis to refine his performance and consistency.
According to reports from SI.com, Mlodzinski expressed a strong preference for a starting pitcher role, having spent the previous two seasons primarily in relief. He had historically been a starter during his time with Double-A Altoona and viewed this as his natural position.
His return to the major league club in June saw him make three starts among 25 relief appearances. Post-return, his statistical performance showed significant improvement, featuring a 2.12 ERA, 2.65 FIP, and a 4:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, indicating he had found a more effective rhythm.
However, as the 2026 season approached, the South Carolina native remained committed to a starting role. He was granted this opportunity initially due to an injury to Jared Jones, who began the season on the injured list with a UCL issue. Mlodzinski started his first three games, served as a long reliever in his fourth appearance, and then started four of the next five games, interspersed with another long relief stint.
Upon Jones’s return from the injured list, the team informed Mlodzinski that he would be moved out of the rotation to a bulk relief capacity, with the potential for future starts as needed. This decision was reportedly not well-received by the 27-year-old pitcher.
When informed of the plan to transition him to the bullpen, ahead of Bubba Chandler, Mlodzinski stated to reporters:
“Honestly, I’m just still communicating with the organization and the people in my corner, whether that’s my family and my agency, about what’s next, and I really don’t have any comments after that.”
It is worth noting that at the time of this decision, Mlodzinski’s performance statistics were superior to those of Chandler:
- Mlodzinski: 11 appearances, 4-3 record, 3.76 ERA, 3.35 FIP
- Chandler: 11 appearances, 1-6 record, 4.35 ERA, 5.00 FIP
Ultimately, organizational decisions are made by management, and players on pre-arbitration contracts, particularly those earning less than $1 million, typically have limited agency in such matters.
Following his reassignment, Mlodzinski informed general manager Ben Cherington that he was not prepared to pitch. Consequently, to avoid playing with a depleted roster and in the absence of an injury, the team placed the pitcher on the restricted list. Cherington expressed confidence in Mlodzinski’s eventual readiness to return.
Just one day later, the Pirates reinstated the right-handed pitcher. After consulting with his representatives, Mlodzinski conveyed to MLB.com:
“I want to do what’s best to help us win baseball games. Being around these guys, this team, it’s a pretty cool group to be a part of. Of course I want to start and will always want that, but winning games takes precedence.”
He subsequently rejoined the bullpen. In the Pirates’ June 4th game against the Astros, he entered in the sixth inning and pitched through the final four innings, allowing four hits and one run, contributing to Pittsburgh’s 5-1 victory.
This resolution suggests that Mlodzinski has processed the experience and is prepared to adapt to the team’s needs, whether with the Pirates or another organization, although both Mlodzinski and Cherington confirmed no trade request was made. He stated:
“If they called on me Tuesday, if they need me to do that, I would be willing to do whatever they’re asking. That kind of sums it up for me, honestly.”
Business Style Takeaway: Player development and organizational alignment are critical for sustained success in professional sports. Mlodzinski’s situation highlights the tension between individual player aspirations and team-centric decision-making, ultimately demonstrating the importance of adaptability and team commitment for career longevity.
Information compiled from materials : www.forbes.com