The Pirates put pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list when he wouldn’t agree to move to the bullpen. He came to his senses the next day. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Carmen Mlodzinski is part of a young core of home-grown pitchers that are the present and the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates*. And, it seems, after some introspection and soul-searching, Mlodzinski has elected to row in the same direction as the organization and do what it takes to bring a winning team back to the Steel City.
*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 pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of South Carolina. After a couple of seasons in the minors, he made his major league debut on June 16, 2023, coming in to pitch the sixth inning of a game the Pirates trailed 4-2 to the Brewers. He struck out Blake Perkins looking to start his career, but then gave up a home run to Joey Wiemer. He recorded three more outs around a walk before heading to the showers for the first time as a big leaguer.
One month later, on July 9th, he had his first major league start. He went 1-1/3 innings and allowed a run on throwing error by catcher Austin Hedges. He made 25 more appearances in 2023, all out of the bullpen.
In 2024, his first ten appearances were out of the ‘pen before starting a game on June 8th. He started three more games over the rest of the year (with 28 appearances in relief).
Mlodzinski began the 2025 season as a full-time starter, taking the hill in the first inning for his first nine games. In that stretch, he went 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, but with a slightly better FIP of 4.35. The Pirates then optioned him back to Triple-A Indianapolis to work on his consistency.
According to SI.com, the pitcher truly wanted to be a starter after working out of the bullpen the previous two seasons. He had been a starter since pitching for Double-A Altoona, and felt that was his natural position.
He came back to the big club in June and started three games over 25 appearances. His numbers upon his return were considerably better: 2.12 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 4/1 strikeout to walk ratio. It seemed as if he had found his groove.
However, the South Carolina native was adamant about being a starting pitcher as the team headed into 2026. And he got his shot when Jared Jones began the season on the injury list with a problematic UCL. Mlodzinski started his first three games, came in for long relief (innings 2-7) in his fourth appearance, then started four out of the next five times (with an additional long relief stint sandwiched in between).
But when Jones came off the IL, the team informed the right-hander that he would be out of the rotation and used as a bulk relief guy with the possibility of starting again as the team’s needs arise. Suffice it to say, the 27-year-old didn’t cotton to the idea.
When told of the plan to move him – and not Bubba Chandler – to the bullpen, he told 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.”
In fairness, when the Pirates made this choice, Mlodzinski had considerably better numbers than Chandler. To wit:
- Mlodzinski: 11 appearance, 4-3 record, 3.76 ERA, 3.35 FIP
- Chandler: 11 appearances, 1-6 record, 4.35 ERA, 5.00 FIP
But, those who sign the checks are those who get to make the decisions. And professional athletes, especially those on pre-arbitration contracts for less than $1 million, don’t really get to have a say in the matter.
After his demotion, Mlodzinski told general manager Ben Cherington that he wasn’t ready to pitch. So, rather than play a man down, and because he was not injured, the team put the pitcher on the restricted list. Cherington did say he was confident that Mlodzinski would be ready to go soon.
Just one day later, the Pirates reinstated the righty. After conferring with his representatives, and maybe his business manager and a crisis counselor, the fourth-year player told 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.”
And so he moved to the bullpen. He came into the Pirates June 4th game against the Astros in the sixth inning, threw the final four, allowed four hits including a solo homer, helping preserve Pittsburgh’s 5-1 victory.
All’s well that ends well, and it seems that Mlodzinski has learned from the experience and will deal with whatever the Pirates – or another organization (although he and Cherington both confirmed that no trade request was made) – throws at him.
“If they called on me Tuesday, if they need me to do that, I would be willing to do whatever they’re asking,” Mlodzinski said. “That kind of sums it up for me, honestly.”
Leave a comment