Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 220 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 02/19/1999
College: University of South Carolina
How Acquired: Draft Supp. 1st round, 31st Overall, 2020
Bonus: $2,050,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
Mlodzinski was a latecomer as a pitching prospect. He moved from the infield to the mound as a high school senior and didn’t pitch especially well his first two years at South Carolina. He had a 5.52 ERA as a freshman and 5.91 in three games as a sophomore, with his season limited by a foot injury. He broke out in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2019, with a 2.15 ERA and 40 strikeouts to 4 walks. As a redshirt sophomore in 2020, he put up a 2.84 ERA in four games before the season was shut down.
Mlodzinski didn’t show quite the same stuff in 2020 that he did in Cape Cod. His fastball was reaching 97-98 mph in summer ball, but sat at 92-94 in 2020, although it reached higher. In 2021 he was mostly in the mid-90s. His slider and cutter were plus pitches in Cape Cod, but more solid in 2020, leaving questions about how many bats he’ll miss in pro ball. As a major leaguer pitching in relief, his fastball in 2023 averaged close to 96 mph. He was also throwing a slider with good spin, as well as a change and cutter. All of his secondary pitches were proving effective. Mlodzinski dropped his arm slot to a low three-quarters angle and that seemed to be helping as well. As a draft prospect, MLB.com rated him 21st, while Baseball America rated him 25th. Several other observers rated him in the top 50. He signed for a little under the slot amount of $2,312,000.
2020-23
Mlodzinski didn’t go to the Pirates’ alternate training site, but was in the fall instructional league. In 2021, he got off to a great start at Greensboro. In seven starts in May and June, he had a 1.72 ERA and 13.2 K/9. He started struggling in July, though, and went on the injured list for a month with a sore shoulder. When he returned he pitched only in short stints and wasn’t effective. Mlodzinski pitched far better at home than on the road, so the Greensboro ballpark didn’t hurt him. He spent the season in the Altoona rotation and did not have a good year. Opponents batted 267/331/425 against him in a league where the averages were 240/325/403. Things didn’t get better over the course of the season. After Mlodzinski had a very good month of June, opponents battered him in July and August, resulting in a 6.51 ERA and 1.55 WHIP.
In 2023, the Pirates moved Mlodzinski to relief. The move showed results right away as he had a big spring. Out of the bullpen, his fastball averaged 95-96 mph. He only threw it half the time, going often with a slider, cutter and change. He pitched well at Indianapolis and, in mid-June, got called up and quickly established himself as a late-inning option. At both stops, his traditional stats were better than the more analytical ones. At Indy he had a 3.04 ERA and 4.11 xFIP. With the Pirates, those numbers were 2.25 and 4.33. He was helped in Pittsburgh by a .260 BABIP and 77.1% strand rate, although neither was exceptionally far from normal. His 4.5 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 in Pittsburgh weren’t great. Opponents had just a 214/309/313 line against him.
2024
Mlodzinski had a lot of ups and downs in 2024. He started the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation, returned to Indianapolis in mid-April and the Pirates optioned him, so he didn’t reach the majors until mid-May. He got hit hard at first, but pitched very well in June and July, with a 1.37 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. Mlodzinski went back on the IL at the end of July and returned to the Pirates in late August. He had a bad game at the end of August, but posted a 1.98 ERA in September. For the most part, Mlodzinski didn’t dominate — his K/9 was 8.2 — but opponents don’t seem to square up well against him. Statcast put him in the 99th percentile for barrel % and 78th for hard-hit %. He finished the season with a 3.38 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.
Stats
Transactions
June 10, 2020: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Supplemental 1st round, 31st overall pick; signed on July 2.
June 16, 2023: Contract selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates.