The Pirates select RHP Carmen Mlodzinski with the 31st pick in the 2020 MLB Draft

With the 31st pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Pirates have selected right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski out of South Carolina.

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Mlodzinski is an interesting pitching prospect, as he spent his collegiate career facing elite competition in the SEC but didn’t really succeed, posting a 4.74 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP over 26 games. However, after his sophomore season ended early due to a broken foot, he drew rave reviews for his Cape Cod League performance last summer, and his progress continued over four starts this season as he threw for a 3.20 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

Mlodzinski’s stuff is what brought him into Day 1 consideration, as he throws his fastball in the mid-to-high 90s while flashing plus movement, and he also throws a power slider that is already polished and a changeup that flashes potential. He’s obviously not a sure thing and hasn’t definitively proven that he can pound the strike zone consistently, but Mlodzinski has been on a significant upward trajectory over the last year and looks like a guy who has the potential to be a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues.