USC righthanded pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski was projected as a first round pick in Wednesday’s MLB Draft. As things turned out, he was a first day pick, but by the MLB Draft Tracker, not a first round pick. There were 29 first round picks, then the draft moved into what’s termed “Competitive Balance Round A”. Two picks into that, at #31, Mlodzinski heard his name called by the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to the tracker, the approximate value for that pick is 2.31 million dollars. The top pick, Arizona State third baseman Spencer Torkelson, is slated for a 8.43 millon dollar payday.
Here’s the USC release on Mlodzinski
University of South Carolina redshirt sophomore pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski selected in competitive balance round A by the Pittsburgh Pirates on the first day of the 2020 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Wednesday night (June 10). Mlodzinski was the 31st overall pick in the draft and the highest Gamecock picked in the draft since Clarke Schmidt went No. 16 to the New York Yankees in 2017.
Mlodzinski, a Hilton Head, S.C., native, was 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched in the CoVID-19-shortened 2020 season. He combined on a shutout in the 10-0 Opening Day win over Holy Cross (Feb. 14), going seven innings in the victory. He struck out six in seven innings against Northwestern on Feb. 21 and earned the win in 5.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts against Cornell (March 6). Injury cut his sophomore season short, when he made three starts, striking out 11 in 10.2 innings pitched. He made 19 appearances in his freshman season of 2018, earning the win in the Greenville Regional championship game against UNC Wilmington.
The MLB Draft will conclude on Thursday night (June 11) with rounds 2-5. The draft will be televised on ESPN and MLB Network beginning at 5 p.m.
