{"id":119761,"date":"2026-04-21T08:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=119761"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:56:13","slug":"wilber-dotel-needs-to-step-up-for-the-pirates-bullpen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/21\/wilber-dotel-needs-to-step-up-for-the-pirates-bullpen\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilber Dotel needs to step up for the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates\u2019 bullpen<\/a> has been shaky to start the 2026 season. While Isaac Mattson<\/a>, Dennis Santana<\/a>, and Gregory Soto<\/a> have been rock solid, the same can\u2019t be said for the rest of their relievers. Justin Lawrence<\/a> was dominant last year, but has struggled this year. Yohan Ramirez<\/a> has both dominated and struggled at times. The Bucs have also had a revolving door of arms between Hunter Barco<\/a>, Jose Urquidy<\/a>, Evan Sisk<\/a>, and Cam Sanders<\/a>. However, the Pirates called up one of their top prospects<\/a>, Wilber Dotel<\/a>, to hopefully add some stability to the bullpen. It\u2019s now Dotel\u2019s time to shine and step up for the Bucs\u2019 bullpen.<\/p>\n

Prospect on the rise<\/h2>\n
\"Image
Apr 19, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Wilber Dotel (66) pitches in his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The young right-hander entered 2026 as the Bucs\u2019 tenth-best prospect on Baseball America<\/a> and 12th-best on MLB Pipeline<\/a>. Dotel earned that status after putting up a 4.15 ERA, 3.89 FIP, and 1.23 over 125.2 innings for Double-A Altoona last season. He struck out just under a quarter of opponents with a 24.5% K%, and had an 8% BB%. That is a massive improvement over his 11.6% BB% in 2024.<\/p>\n

Dotel made his MLB debut in the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, the 19th. Although he gave up a home run to Junior Caminero (who hit 45 long balls as a rookie last year), Dotel got the next three batters out. That included getting Jonathan Aranda to strikeout, inducing a ground ball from Yandy Diaz, and making Cedric Mullins fly out to center field. Dotel fared well against players who have proven themselves in the past.<\/p>\n

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Wilber Dotel, the @Pirates<\/a>‘ No. 12 prospect, secures his first MLB K on a 98.6 mph heater! pic.twitter.com\/k8kgklR7oO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n