Pirates Roster Moves: Wilber Dotel Recalled, Set for MLB Debut
The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled right-handed pitching prospect Wilber Dotel, whose first appearance will be his major league debut. To make room for him on the active roster, right-hander Cam Sanders was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Dotel, who is considered the Pirates’ No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was added to the 40-man roster this offseason. In three starts with Triple-A Indianapolis to start the year, Dotel went 1-2 with a 6.28 ERA. In 14.1 innings, he allowed 18 hits (two home runs), walked seven and struck out 13.
The 23-year-old has pitched parts of six seasons in the organization and is 28-20 with a 4.21 ERA in 98 appearances/84 starts. He spent the entire 2025 season with Double-A Altoona and went 7-9 with a 4.15 ERA and set career-highs in innings pitched (125.1) and strikeouts (131).
Although he’s been used exclusively as a starting pitcher since the start of the 2023 season, the Pirates will use Dotel out of the bullpen — presumably in a bulk role — to begin his big-league career.
Sanders made his season debut in Saturday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays after he was recalled earlier in the homestand. He allowed four runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen after a lengthy rain delay.
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