Pirates Place Right-Hander Carmen Mlodzinski on Restricted List

Pirates Roster Moves: Mlodzinski to Restricted List, Griffin Injured

The Pittsburgh Pirates just shook up their roster. Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski is heading to the restricted list, and infielder Konnor Griffin hits the 10-day injured list with a right elbow strain.

These moves come as the team juggles pitching changes and tries to keep everyone available. They’re hoping to steady their spot in the league, but it’s a lot to manage.

Navigating Pitching Depth and Player Availability

Baseball never really stands still, does it? The Pirates are right in the thick of it, dealing with pitching staff changes and sudden injuries.

General Manager Ben Cherington talked about why they made these choices. He pointed out how important it is to keep the roster flexible and make sure players are ready when needed.

Mlodzinski’s Shift and the Restricted List Decision

Carmen Mlodzinski, a righty, recently moved to the bullpen. That happened because Jared Jones came back to the rotation after elbow surgery.

Mlodzinski hasn’t pitched since his last start against the Cubs on Monday. He also wasn’t going to be ready for Sunday’s game against the Twins.

Ben Cherington said the team told Mlodzinski he needed to be ready by the weekend. If not, he’d lose his spot on the active roster.

Cherington said they made this call “in fairness to the team.” They need everyone able to contribute, plain and simple.

Still, Cherington sounded pretty sure Mlodzinski will pitch for the Pirates again soon. This doesn’t feel like a goodbye—more like a pause.

Mlodzinski’s stats this season show a solid pitcher. He’s got a 4-3 record and a 3.76 ERA over 55 innings.

He’s shown versatility, with nine starts and two relief appearances.

Griffin’s Promising Rookie Season Halted by Injury

Now, about Konnor Griffin—he’s the Pirates’ 20-year-old infielder who just landed on the IL. Griffin signed a huge nine-year, $140 million deal in April.

He’s now on the 10-day IL with a right elbow strain. Tough break for a rookie who was making real noise.

Griffin’s bat has been impressive. He’s hitting .270, with four home runs and 22 RBIs.

His speed stands out, too—he’s already swiped 14 bases.

Reinforcements and Roster Adjustments

With these injuries, the Pirates are trying to patch things up. They’re bringing back some familiar faces who’ve been working their way back from injuries themselves.

O’Hearn and Sanders Return to the Fold

The Pittsburgh Pirates have reinstated Ryan O’Hearn, a first baseman and outfielder, from the injured list. O’Hearn had missed time with a right quad muscle strain.

His return gives the club an experienced bat and some much-needed versatility on defense.

At the same time, the team called up right-handed pitcher Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis. Sanders gets his shot after showing he’s ready for the majors—he’s earned a look and brings a fresh arm to the bullpen.

Moves like these really show how unpredictable pro baseball can be. The Pirates are shuffling the roster, trying to stay sharp and handle injuries as they come. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact these changes have in the next few weeks.

 
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