Draft preview: South Carolina righty Carmen Mlodzinski

Carmen Mlodzinski is a 6-foot-2, 231-lb. right-hander out of South Carolina who is ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the MLBPipeline.com top 200 list. The Nationals, who select at No. 22 in the first round, could have a very good shot at choosing this talented pitcher in the June 10 First-Year Player Draft.

His college coach believes Mlodzinski has the tools and the makeup to become a solid starter in the major leagues. Mark Kingston has been the coach at South Carolina for three seasons after successful stints at Illinois State and South Florida. He was also a pitcher locally at Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va., and at North Carolina, guiding the Tar Heels to the 1989 College World Series.

"Carmen has really developed nicely as a prospect," Kingston said. "He came in here with a pretty decent name on the prospect scene, but has really improved his game, his strength. Everything about him has really elevated the last three years. He's had to overcome his share of adversity. He had the broken foot. Obviously, we missed this season, so his freshman season was really his only full year with us.

"He made some spot starts that year. He won a big game in the regional for us to get us to the super regional round. So he had some moments. But then last year, his sophomore year, he broke his foot and missed the remainder of the year, and this year obviously the season got canceled."

Mlodzinski, 21, has demonstrated a mid-90's fastball and some breaking pitches with some good movement. He went 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts before the college season was halted in mid-March. Mlodzinski struck out 22 and allowed only eight walks in 25 1/3 frames.

"I think the breaking ball will continue to improve the more he pitches," Kingston said. "It's been a little bit inconsistent, just because he hasn't been able to get on a specific routine because of the injuries and the season getting canceled. He is a very low-risk pick. There is just so much to like: the velocity, the control, the competitiveness, the work ethic, the maturity. There is just so much to like with whatever team takes him."

Mlodzinski gained valuable experience pitching in the Cape Cod League for the Falmouth Commodores last summer, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in six starts. He pitched 29 1/3 innings, striking out 40. The Commodores went 27-15.

"The thing with him is he just has an elite fastball with elite movement," Kingston said. "So he is just going to be a groundball machine at the professional level against wood bats. He made not have some of the gaudy strikeout numbers, but I think he is going to be a guy who can get a lot of quick outs and really make it tough, especially on right-handed hitters.

"He has had to deal with a lot of ups and downs, but whatever team drafts him is getting a power arm with plus makeup and a guy that really wants to be great."

Mlodzinski said during this season's team media day that that summer showcase experience was big for his confidence and syncing up his mental game with his physical talents.

"That's kind of where he made a name for himself," Kingston said. "He pitched as well in the Cape Cod League as anybody. That is really where he came on the prospect scene a big way."

Mlodzinski had a lot of time to think about what kind of pitcher he wants to be as he healed his foot all last year. Then he was able to test that new mental approach in the Cape Cod League games.

"All kids. as they go from high school to college, have to kind of find themselves on and off the field and what kind of person do they want to evolve into," Kingston said. "Once he found where his comfort zone was in terms of the right combination of being intense but also being loose, I think that's when his game really started to take off. The final piece was going and doing so well in the Cape Cod League. That gave him the confidence to really be the cherry on top."

The Gamecocks were 12-4 before the season had to be shut down. Kingston said the strength of the team was pitching, thanks to guys like Mlodzinski.

"We were a really good team," Kingston said. "I thought we were going to have a really nice year. Our pitching staff, I think, was among of the best in the country, especially statistically. If you look at we struck out twice as many guys as we gave up hits. Opponents' batting average was first or second (lowest) in the SEC. Our pitching staff, I thought, was really going to carry us this year."

Kingston also believes South Carolina infielder Noah Campbell (Durham, N.C.) could get a look in the late rounds. Campbell slashed .254/.349/.382 in three seasons with 10 doubles, five triples, 10 homers, 23 stolen bases and 42 RBIs.

"Noah Campbell is a utility player for us," Kingston said. "He can play infield and he can play outfield. He had two good summers on the Cape. He has had a solid career for us. He is a guy that could be considered in the fourth- or fifth-round category."