South Carolina Baseball: Another former Gamecock gets call to the Big Leagues
By Kevin Miller
Two weeks ago, South Carolina baseball product TJ Hopkins was called up to the Cincinnati Reds from the organization’s Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats. Hopkins joined a long list of former Gamecocks who made their way to professional baseball’s highest level.
On Friday, that list got a little bit bigger. Former Gamecock right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski received his call-up to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The promotion comes after Mlodzinski pitched his way to a 3.16 ERA and a 31-11 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Indianapolis.
The 2023 season had been his most successful Minor League campaign to date as the talented 24-year old transitioned to a full-time reliever role for the Pirates organization.
On Friday, the new call-up also got his first Big League action on the mound. Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Mlodzinski pitched 1 and 1/3 innings and gave up a run on just one hit and a walk. He also struck out two Brewers batters and induced four swing-and-miss attempts from his opponents. His first sequence was a strikeout of Milwaukee outfielder Blake Perkins in his only time not getting on base during the contest.
For the surprisingly good Pirates, Mlodzinski will compete for prominence in the bullpen as Pittsburgh continued battling for first place in the National League Central Division. They are currently in second place, just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers.
During his South Carolina baseball career, Mlodzinski never experienced a full season. Battling injuries and the Covid-19 shutdown of the 2020 season, he only pitched in 26 total games and 81 innings for the Gamecocks. The big right-hander seemed poised for a very good season in 2020 before play was halted as he owned a 2.84 ERA and a 22-8 K/BB ratio.
The production was enough for the Pirates as the organization picked Mlodzinski in the first round of the abbreviated 2020 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
After three years of Minor League ball, Mlodzinski is a Major Leaguer.