In 2018, Mlodzinski's freshman year at USC, he pitched 45+2⁄3 innings, going 3–6 with a 5.52 ERA and 21 walks and 43 strikeouts over 19 games (seven starts).[5] As a sophomore in 2019, he was the Gamecocks' opening day starter.[6] However, during his third start of the year, he suffered a foot injury and missed the remainder of the 2019 season.[7] That summer, he returned from the injury, playing for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League and pitching to a 1.83 ERA and 43 strikeouts as opposed to five walks over 34+1⁄3 innings.[8][9][10] Mlodzinski entered his redshirt sophomore season in 2020 as a top prospect for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[11] He pitched to a 2.84 ERA over four starts before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
Professional career
Mlodzinski was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 31st overall pick of the draft.[13] He signed with the Pirates on July 2, 2020, for a $2.05 million bonus.[14] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the pandemic.[15]
Mlodzinski made his professional debut in 2021 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the High-A East.[16] He was placed on the injured list on July 12 with a shoulder injury, and was activated on August 14.[17] He returned to the injured list once again on September 9, but was activated only one week later.[18] Over 14 starts with Greensboro, Mlodzinski went 2–3 with a 3.93 ERA and 64 strikeouts over 50+1⁄3 innings.[19] Following the end of Greensboro's season, he was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A East, with whom he pitched two innings.[20] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after the season.[21] He was assigned to the Altoona Curve of the Double-AEastern League for the 2022 season.[22] In early May, he was placed on the injured list due to a shoulder injury but was activated a week later.[23] Over 27 games (22 starts), he went 6–8 with a 4.78 ERA and 111 strikeouts over 105+1⁄3 innings.[24]
To open the 2023 season, he was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-AInternational League.[25] In 19 games for Indianapolis, he registered a 3.16 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 1 save in 25+2⁄3 innings pitched. On June 16, 2023, Mlodzinski was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Rob Zastryzny was placed on the injured list.[26]
