Pirates bring back valuable pitcher and finally agree to use him correctly

After a dazzling stint with Triple-A Indianapolis, right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski is headed back to the big leagues – and this time, the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to use him the right way.

Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday morning that Mlodzinski had been recalled from Indianapolis and that the Pirates would primarily use him as a bulk reliever, similar to the role held by rookie right-hander Braxton Ashcraft. Right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas has been optioned back to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

This is music to the ears of Pittsburgh fans, who watched Mlodzinski struggle mightily through the Pirates' fruitless attempt to convert him to a back-of-the-rotation starter earlier this season when it was revealed that Jared Jones would open the year on the injured list. Mlodzinski's starts followed a similar pattern in which he would successfully get through the batting order once before ultimately coming unraveled in the second or third turn through the order.

Pirates bring back Carmen Mlodzinski and finally agree to use him correctly

Mlodzinski went 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28 strikeouts against 12 walks in 39 2/3 innings over nine starts for the Pirates this season before the club ultimately made the baffling decision to option him to Triple-A (as opposed to simply moving him to the bullpen) when they re-called true starting pitcher Mike Burrows.

It became clear that the Pirates' decision to option Mlodzinski was to help him continue to develop as a starting pitcher, as all three of his appearances at Indianapolis were starts. Admittedly, he pitched extremely well, allowing just two earned runs on 11 hits and striking out 16 for a 1.15 ERA over 15 2/3 innings of work.

Finally, however, the Pirates have acknowledged that Mlodzinski's best use at the big league level is as a reliever. He had pitched well out of the Pirates' bullpen in each of the previous two seasons, making occasional spot starts when needed. His ERA has creeped higher in each of his three years with Pittsburgh – incidentally, as his number of starts increased.

Mlodzinski's return to the Pirates' relief corps can help shore up their bullpen depth and turn it into a strength rather than a glaring weakness.

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