After being bumped from the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation to make room for the return of Jared Jones, right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski chose his words carefully Thursday night when asked for his reaction.
“Obviously just excited to have Jared back with us,” Mlodzinski said in the home clubhouse after the 7-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. “I can honestly say I’m just still communicating with the organization and the people in my corner, whether that’s my family or my agency, about what’s next. I really don’t have any comments after that.”
Pirates manager Don Kelly announced Thursday afternoon that Mlodzinski would move to the bullpen in what he described as a “bulk, multi-inning, high-leverage” relief role.
“He’s such a fierce competitor,” Kelly said. “Obviously disappointed and has worked hard in the starting pitcher’s role and has done a nice job. And the value that he brings out of the ’pen like that, to be able to throw high-leverage, multi-inning, big innings for us that, quite frankly, we need out of the ’pen.”
Asked if he was told his move to the bullpen was because he’s capable of doing it, given his 94 career relief appearances, Mlodzinski shook his head.
“I can’t say it was delivered like that,” Mlodzinski said.
How was it delivered?
“We had a conversation (Wednesday) about it,” Mlodzinski said, “and I’m just not quite ready to share too many details right now.”
Mlodzinski was 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 46 strikeouts against 20 walks in 11 appearances this season, but his splits suggest he was far better as a reliever than as a starter.
Where he was 2-3 with a 4.30 ERA and 1.52 WHIP as hitters batted .295 with a .765 OPS against him in 44 innings over nine starts, Mlodzinski was 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and .162 batting average-against and .522 OPS in two relief appearances.
Twice, the Pirates used left-hander Mason Montgomery as an opener and brought Mlodzinski out of the bullpen. In a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals on April 15, he struck out five while allowing two hits and two walks in six scoreless innings. In a 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on May 14, Mlodzinski followed scoreless innings by lefties Montgomery and Evan Sisk and gave up two runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in five innings.
Mlodzinski declined to discuss the challenges of returning to the bullpen or how it would affect his daily routine, but he defended his performance in the starting rotation this season.
“Proud of the work I’ve been able to do,” Mlodzinski said. “Kind of leave it at that.”
Mlodzinski said his teammates, especially those on the pitching staff, have been supportive of the situation. And he promised to do the same for Jones, who will start Friday against the Minnesota Twins in returning to a major-league mound for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right elbow in May 2025.
“Yeah, I think they try to put themselves in my shoes,” Mlodzinski said. “We all try to support each other. We are all going to do that for Jared, as well, tomorrow. We are excited to see him. We are all going to support each other for sure on this team.”