Pittsburgh Pirates: Examining How 2020 Draft Picks Are Performing

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Jun 30, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; A general view of a Pittsburgh Pirates glove and hat in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Carmen Mlodzinski

Carmen Mlodzinski was the Pirates’ competitive balance pick. He was selected with the #31 overall pick. The right-hander didn’t put up the greatest numbers in college, ending his amateur career with a 4.74 ERA, 4.07 FIP and 1.53 WHIP. But Mlodzinski pitched well at the Cape Cod League in 2019 and was seen as a high-ceiling pitcher going into the draft.

Mlodsinksi has since joined Gonzales, playing with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. So far, he’s pitched 41 innings posting a 2.63 ERA, 3.80 FIP and 1.00 WHIP. Mlodzinski’s FIP is a bit high, but his xFIP represents a solid 3.44 mark. Mlodzinski has struck out batters at an outstanding 33.3% rate while keeping walks to a solid 8.6% rate.

Home runs have been his only weakness this year. He currently holds a 1.1 HR/9 rate, which overall isn’t bad. It’s a bit unlucky as well once you consider he has a 46.7% ground ball rate, and a 30.4% fly ball rate. But 32.1% of fly balls have been infield flies. He’s giving up line drives at a bit of a high 22.8% rate, but it’s one of the few blemishes on an otherwise strong debut season for the 22-year-old.

Like Gonzales, Mlodzinski could get his first taste of Double-A action by the end of the season. The right-hander is pitching extremely well at High-A and may even get the promotion to Altoona before Gonzales given the second baseman’s injury. Considering that next year will be his age 23-season, we may even see him as a mid-season call-up in 2022. He, like Gonzales, could be an extremely key part of the future plans of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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