In today’s addition to the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft Scouting Report series (you can read all of the reports here) we’re looking at South Carolina right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski. He’s currently rated as the #25 prospect in the draft by Baseball America, the #26 prospect by Fangraphs, and the #44 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
The 2018 Season
As a freshman Carmen Mlodzinski split his time between the rotation and the bullpen for South Carolina. He made 7 starts, but also had 12 relief appearances as he threw a total of 45.2 innings. He struggled a bit with control, walking 21 batters while striking out 43 to go along with a 5.52 ERA and a save.
The 2019 Season
An injury to his foot kept Carmen Mlodzinski off of the mound for most of the season at South Carolina where he made just three starts. The results were poor, throwing just 10.2 innings with 11 walks, 2 hit batters, a 5.91 ERA, and 11 strikeouts.
But following the season he did head out to the Cape Cod League and showed what he was capable of when healthy. Mlodzinski dominated in his 6 starts for Falmouth, posting a 2.15 ERA in 29.1 innings where he allowed just 15 hits, walked just 4 batters (though he also hit 4), and racked up 40 strikeouts.
The 2020 Season
After a huge showing in the Cape Cod League, Carmen Mlodzinski came out in 2020 and wasn’t quite as strong – but was better than he had been in the past. That is, of course, until the season shut down. He made 4 starts for South Carolina in 2020, throwing 25.1 innings with a 2.84 ERA, 8 walks, and 22 strikeouts.
Carmen Mlodzinski College Stats
Carmen Mlodzinski Video
Carmen Mlodzinski Scouting Report
Height: 6′ 2″ | Weight: 231 lbs
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Position(s): Right-handed Starting Pitcher
There’s some upside here. When he’s been at his best, he’s throwing 95-98 MPH with a heavy fastball with movement on both planes. But he’s really only shown that version out on the Cape, and even in 2020 the velocity backed up a bit into the lower to mid-90’s while touching a tad higher. The secondary stuff also backed up from where it was over the previous summer. At his best, he showed a plus slider, a potentially plus cutter, and a solid curveball. But things weren’t quite there at South Carolina. Mlodzinski also has a change up that’s a below-average offering that he doesn’t use frequently.
Where the concern could be
He’s got a very limited track record as a starter who has had success. A team that believes in the upside can make a good argument that he’s got some of the best stuff in the draft – but he’s been unable to consistently find that caliber of stuff in the last three years, too. He could be a steal for a team if they can get the most out of what he’s shown. But there’s plenty of risk that the flashes are just that – flashes.