Carmen Mlodzinski got more swing and miss in 2024
Reliever was harder to square up in sophomore season
Carmen Mlodzinski was a part of the first draft from Ben Cherington as the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Selected out of South Carolina, Mlodzinski began his professional career as a starter before switching to the bullpen in 2023.
He had a solid rookie season, posting a 3-3 record with one save and a 2.25 ERA. He struck out 34 batters in 36 innings pitched.
Not bad for a rookie pitching in the bullpen for the first time as a pro. If you could nitpick anything from it, you would probably have liked to see more swing and miss, as he had a 21.4% whiff rate in 2023.
The fastball averaged 95 mph and has strong metrics, with an elite approach angle due to his lower arm slot. Despite that, he only posted a 20.4% whiff rate with the four-seamer.
In 2024, he was able to up that to a much more respectable 25.5% rate, even upping the velocity nearly a full tick.
One thing that could have potentially helped was the addition of an apparent Gryo-type slider (less horizontal break) to go along with his cutter and sweeper as secondary pitches to the four-seamer.
Aside from statcast physically labeling them as three different pitches, they have three specific shapes and velocities to them as well.
The slider and sweeper graded out as his best pitches and got a whiff rate of over 30% each. Mlodzinski didn’t have a single-pitch finish with a whiff rate of 30% or more last year.
Pittsburgh had some bullpen issues down the stretch, but Mlodzinski wasn’t one of them. He allowed just three earned runs over his final 10 appearances (10.2 IP), striking out 10.
As they build their bullpen going into 2025, it seems safe to say that Mlodzinski will be a part of it, and if the stuff continues to trend in this direction, he could play a factor in the back end of it.
This site is 100% reader-supported, with no revenue coming from ads. If you enjoy our work, consider becoming a paid member today.
You will not only help the site grow but also get access to our fantastic premium content, which includes our Top 25 rankings and full-player write-ups, video breakdowns, and any features that come from my on-site trips.
Bucs On Deck is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I’m definitely a member of the Mlod squad. I think he’s primary 7th inning RP in close games to start season. I’m guessing he is the Club’s Closer in ‘26 after showing he’s got the ability to do it successfully a handful of times next season.
Melkel: Thanks, man. That was fab. Sounds to me like it's a fixable thing where he was tipping according to Trevor May. Loved his video rundown of it too. He suspects that batters were reading his hand positions. Crazy.
Loved how May said that Bednar has better stuff than he EVER had.
Interesting note about the tunneling and the lat (?) strain too.
@>@>@> Three (3!) carrots for Melkel!
-Wabbit