PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was a highly thought of prospect at the end of the first round in 2020 out of the University of South Carolina. Now after a couple of years in the bullpen, Carmen Mlodzinski will start the season in the Pirates rotation. He also will pitch in the opening series.
The right-hander made 12 starts last year in the majors as part of an MLB career-high 99 innings. The 27-year-old went 5-8, 3.55 ERA in 34 games with 102 hits, 89 strikeouts and 27 walks to finish with a 1.30 WHIP.
Contrast between starter and reliever in 2025
· Starter 1-4, 4.99 ERA, 48.2IP, 58 hits, 5 HR, 16 BB, 36 K, 1.52 WHIP
· Reliever 4-4, 2.15 ERA, 50.1 IP, 44 hits, 3 HR, 11 BB, 53 K, 1.09 WHIP
Mlodzinski began the 2025 season as a starter, before moving back to the bullpen when he returned from AAA on June 13. At the time, Mlodzinski had a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and .311 batting average against.
His last three months of last season, mostly as a reliever, were impressive. July 1.80 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, August 2.04 ERA and 0.91 WHIP and September 1.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. In 10.1 innings in Spring Training, 0-1, 3.48 ERA, 14 hits, 11 strikeouts to two walks and a 1.55 WHIP.
Paul Skenes will start the opener in New York on Thursday followed by Mitch Keller and then Mlodzinski.