PITTSBURGH — With opening day approaching this week, the Pittsburgh Pirates have finalized their starting pitching lineup by adding a new arm to the rotation.
According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, Pirates manager Derek Shelton revealed that right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski will serve as the team’s fifth starter, while fellow right-hander Thomas Harrington will not be part of the opening day roster.
The Pirates’ starting rotation is expected to feature right-handers Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year who will take the mound on opening day, and Mitch Keller, alongside left-handers Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney.
Stumpf noted that Shelton provided no update on right-hander Jared Jones, who was sidelined for his last spring training start due to elbow discomfort experienced after a bullpen session. Shelton also clarified that Mlodzinski’s designation as the “fifth starter” refers to his inclusion in the rotation rather than a fixed spot in the pitching order.
In 2024, Mlodzinski appeared in 40 games for the Pirates, including four starts, posting a 5-5 record with a 3.91 ERA across 50.2 innings. He recorded 46 strikeouts against 19 walks, a 1.18 WHIP, an 8.17 K/9, and held opponents to a .223 batting average. His season began on the 15-day Injured List due to right elbow inflammation, followed by a rehab stint with the Single-A Bradenton Marauders. He later pitched for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians before debuting for the season on May 17. Mlodzinski faced another setback on July 30, landing on the 15-day Injured List with a right shoulder strain. He began a rehab assignment in Indianapolis on August 20 and rejoined the Pirates on August 27.
Mlodzinski’s MLB journey started when the Pirates selected his contract on June 16, 2023. He debuted that day, pitching 1.1 innings in a 7-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing a solo home run while striking out two. That year, he also spent time on the 15-day Injured List with right elbow soreness starting August 12, rehabbed with Indianapolis beginning August 29, and returned to Pittsburgh on September 1. In his rookie season, he went 3-3 across 35 games, including one start, with a 3.50 ERA over 36.0 innings, 34 strikeouts, 18 walks, a 1.28 WHIP, and a .218 opposing batting average.
A native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Mlodzinski excelled at Hilton Head Island High School, earning the South Carolina Class 4A Player of the Year title. Undrafted in 2017 due to his commitment to South Carolina, he missed most of his 2019 sophomore college season with a foot injury. In 2020, he posted a 2.84 ERA over four starts before the season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pirates picked him 31st overall in the 2020 MLB Draft’s Competitive Balance Round A, signing him for $2.05 million. He spent two full seasons in the minors before splitting 2023 between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
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