Pirates All 40: Carmen Mlodzinski Once Again Prominent Part of Bullpen

This is one in a series of stories breaking down members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.

While most of the attention surrounding the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ability to develop pitching has been on starting pitchers, Carmen Mlodzinski is an example of their ability to do so in the bullpen.

The Pirates selected Mlodzinski from the University of South Carolina with the 31st pick in the 2020 draft — the second-ever pick by Ben Cherington as Pirates’ general manager.

After working his way through the minor-league system, Mlodzinski made his MLB debut in 2023 and quickly established himself as a staple in the Pirates’ bullpen. The right-hander finished his rookie campaign with an impressive 2.25 ERA. He earned his first win on June 30 against the Milwaukee Brewers and collected his first save on Sep. 23 in a wild game against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Though Mlodzinski had success during his debut season, it took a while before we saw him take the mound with the Pirates in 2024. The 25-year-old began the year on the injured list with elbow inflammation and was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis upon his activation.

After shaking the rust off, Mlodzinski rejoined the bullpen in Pittsburgh on May 15. Outside of a month-long stint on the injured list from the end of July to late August, it was another successful season for him.

Mlodzinski was utilized in several different roles for the Pirates in 2024. He was used as an opener four times, finished games five times and was used in a conventional relief role most of the time. Across 40 appearances and 50.2 innings, Mlodzinski went 5-5 with a 3.38 ERA and struck out 46 batters. Opponents slashed a lowly .223/.297/.315 against him.

Heading into 2025, Mlodzinski once again looks poised for a prominent role in the Pirates’ bullpen. Given the struggles of David Bednar and the inconsistencies of Colin Holderman, he should be called upon in high-leverage situations.

Background

• After he was selected with the 31st pick in 2020, Mlodzinski signed with the Pirates for $2.05 million.
• Mlodzinski began his career with the Pirates as a starting pitcher but transitioned to a full-time relief role in 2023.
• Career highlight: Mlodzinski’s first (and only) career save capped off a 13-12 win over the Reds in which the Pirates erased a 9-0 deficit in the biggest comeback in franchise history.
• Contract status: Mlodzinski is pre-arbitration eligible.