Projecting 2020 Frist Round Draft Picks Nick Gonzales and Carmen Mlodzinski
The 2020 season had its fair share of ups and downs and surprises for all 30 Major League Baseball teams. From COVID-19 outbreaks on two teams to playing in a bubble, things were different as all 30 teams tried to navigate a regular and post-season all during a pandemic. However, the harder transition came for the draft class of 2020. They didn't get the opportunity to start right in with their organization but instead had to either work at the team's satellite camp or begin their professional training in their own backyards. The Pittsburgh Pirates' two first round draft picks had very different introductions to their organization. While seventh overall pick Nick Gonzales got to work out at the satellite camp, Mlodzinski had to get his introduction to the organization from his own house.
Now that the 2020 season is behind us, we are pushing forward under the assumption that Minor League Baseball will be back in 2021. So, where does that leave Gonzales and Mlodzinski to start their professional careers? Neither had any professional baseball experience and both are coming from top college programs. Both are 21-years-old and will be looking to advanced rather quickly through the Pirates organization. Today, we will look at what both players bring to the organization and see where they might possibly begin their professional playing careers. Both are projected to make an impact in Pittsburgh one day and are planned to be part of the next Pirates playoff-caliber team.
Nick Gonzales: Infielder
When the Pirates took middle infielder Nick Gonzales as the #7 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, they were getting one of the purest college hitters available. During his senior year at New Mexico state, the 21-year-old hit .448 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI in just 16 games played. He has had to fight for everything he has earned in college baseball, going from a walk-on to a first-round professional draft pick. However, his fight is only beginning as he gets ready to climb the professional ladder. His mind is already in the right place, as he and his buddies rented a place in Tuscon, Arizona to train before his pro career started. That was before he received a call that he was part of the 60-man player pool and had to report to the team's alternate training site in Altoona, PA.
Now that he has spent a year in front of top Pirates Minor League coaches, Gonzales has been able to show a little of what he can do. He is an all-around hitter, being able to hit for average and power throughout his college career. His lowest batting average was .347, which he hit during his freshman season, and he hasn't had an average below .350 since. He produced double-digit home runs in two of his three collegiate seasons and was on pace to nearly double his home run total from 2019 before the season was shutdown. Not only does he hit the ball out of the ballpark, but he doesn't strike out a lot at the plate. During his junior season, he hit a career-high 16 home runs and struck out just 11% of the time while drawing more walks than strikeouts. If this continues in the Minor Leagues, he has a chance to be a star across the league.
With Gonzales being a junior at the time he was drafted he normally would have been sent to Short-Season West Virginia to start his career. However, given the circumstances of 2020, I think Gonzales will start out with the Bradenton Marauders in Advanced-A Ball. His skill set will be put to the test in the pitcher-friendly league, and he can step right in as the starting shortstop. This will kick his development into high gear and, if he blows the coaching staff away, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Double-A Altoona by season's end. Gonzales is protecting to be a special talent, and only time will tell how his strong college numbers will translate to professional ball.
Carmen Mlodzinski: Right-Handed Pitcher
Carmen Mlodzinski came to the Pirates as the number 31 overall draft pick as part of the Pirate's round-one compensation picks. With a high-powered fastball, Mlodzinski has worked his way up to a number one starter during his senior year, but an injury forced him out. However, he bounced back as one of the top pitchers in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2019, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA over six starts with the Falmouth Commodores. He worked 29.1 innings on the mound and struck out 37% of the batters he faced while walking just four batters all season. He started his junior year off strong at South Carolina, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA over 25.1 innings of work while walking eight and striking out 22.
However, Mlodzinski didn't get the same benefit as Gonzales did working with the Major League club. He has been working at home to prepare for the start of his professional baseball career in 2021. The big thing going for Mlodzonski is his control numbers. After struggling his first two years, he has seemed to finally put it all together walking a combined 12 batters in 54.2 innings of work between the Cape Cod League and the NCAA. Because he isn't walking many batters, it makes his 96 mph fastball that much more deadly. As a result, he ended up striking out more batters and dropping his opponent's batting average.
As far as where Mlodzinski will start his professional career, I think he will be a step below Gonzales in Low-A Greensboro. The Pirates will want to have him in Full-Season ball with the loss of the 2020 Minor League season, but they didn't get a chance to see what he had at the alternate training site. Since it will be his first time going against professional hitters, it is a way to ease him into the Minor League ranks. However, if he finds success, I don't think it will be long before he moves to Advanced-A Bradenton. He will look to keep the good control numbers he showed towards the end of his college career and develop into a premier starting pitcher for the Pirates.
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