With the 31st overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Carmen Mlodzinski, a right-handed pitcher from South Carolina.
Mlodzinski stands 6’2″, 230 pounds and he turned 21 years old earlier this year. He was a redshirt sophomore this year due to a foot injury that cost him almost all of the 2019 season. His stock took a huge leap in the Cape Cod League last summer due to improved velocity and secondary pitches, as well as a strong performance throughout the season.
Before play stopped this season, Mlodzinski made four starts. He had a 2.84 ERA in 25.1 innings, with a 22:8 SO/BB ratio and a .258 BAA. He had a 5.52 ERA in 45.2 innings as a freshman and a 5.91 ERA in 10.2 innings last year before the injury, so his college success was limited to last summer and his decent start to this season. However, he was considered a solid prospect coming out of high school, so there is more of a track record than the college stats indicate.
Mlodzinski can get his fastball up to 98 MPH, and shows consistent 94-96 MPH velocity as a starter. The pitch has a lot of life, as you can see in the video below. His breaking ball was once a curve, but now is more of a slider/cutter combo, at times looking like two different pitches. It’s an effective pitch that he uses to get outs. His changeup is also above average at times. He’s a strike-thrower, who gets a lot of contact on the ground.
This isn’t a safe pick here, but there is significant upside potential with refinement. More consistency on his secondary pitches could turn him into a starter with a big frame, who throws strikes with three plus pitches.
Here’s video from this year
This is from last summer
For some comparison, here he was out of high school
