Carmen Mlodzinski: Elevated Fastball Key To Major League Bullpen Success
Carmen Mlodzinski: Elevated Fastball Key To Major League Bullpen Success
Carmen Mlodzinski made the switch to the bullpen this season, and is having success with his fastball up in the zone.
Carmen Mlodzinski was the second draft pick, and the first to reach the majors, of Ben Cherington’s tenure as the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He has always shown a flash throughout his time in the minors, but never really put it all together as a starting pitcher. So going into 2023, the Pirates decided to make a change, and shift Mlodzinski to the bullpen.
Technically, he had made a few relief appearances last year with Altoona, but a lot of that was pitching with an ‘opener’ to try and find the best fit for him.
Turns out the change not only benefited Mlodzinski, but the Pirates as well, as he has turned into one of their better relievers before heading to the injured list recently.
In 21 games at the major league level, which included one start in a bullpen game, the former South Carolina Gamecock has posted a 2.28 ERA, and has held opponents to a .195 average across 23.2 innings pitched.
The key to his success? His fastball, namely his ability to elevate it up in the zone.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Bucs On Deck to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.