Wilber Dotel - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Wilber Dotel looks like a Pirates success story but still comes with one huge question The Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching was a mixed bag in 2026, providing both optimism and concern for 2027. The bullpen was a major issue in the...

OCTOBER 7 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Relegated to Triple-A The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact After giving up two runs (one earned) in three innings Friday, Dotel will be cast out of the Pirates' bullpen in favor of a fresh arm in the form of Hunter Barco. Dotel will finish the MLB season with a 4.46 ERA and 1.37 WHIP alongside a 41:16 K:BB over 42.1 innings.

SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Thursday Dotel will start Thursday's game against the Brewers, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Impact Dotel will be making his second start of the season as the Pirates lean on their bullpen to get through Thursday's affair. The 23-year-old righty gave up three runs while pitching two innings during his first start Friday against the Cubs, and he will likely handle a similar workload Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Handed loss in bullpen game Dotel (1-5) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on four hits over two innings as the Pirates were routed 12-2 by the Cubs. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Impact Pittsburgh went with a bullpen game to fill the spot of Braxton Ashcraft (arm) in the rotation, and Dotel was the first of three pitchers to work multiple innings at Wrigley Field as all three got tagged for at least three runs. Dotel has been relatively effective in a long relief role since the All-Star break, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over his last nine appearances and 16.1 innings.

SEPTEMBER 12 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates' rookie pitchers falter as margin for error shrinks in NL Wild Card race CHICAGO -- The Pirates are fighting for their lives. Looking for their fifth straight win, they relied on three rookie pitchers to piece the...

SEPTEMBER 11 • MLB.COM

Alex Bregman hits his 25th homer and the Cubs pound the Pirates 12-2 to end their 4-game skid

Alex Bregman hit his 25th homer and doubled among three hits, Shota Imanaga tossed six effective innings and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-2 on Friday to end a...

SEPTEMBER 11 • Associated Press

Picking up first MLB start Dotel is slated to start Friday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.

Impact Stepping into the rotation spot vacated by the injured Braxton Ashcraft (arm), Dotel will likely operate as more of an opener Friday rather than a traditional starter. Dotel will be taking the hill on two days' rest and hasn't covered more three innings in any appearance in the majors or minors since the All-Star break, so he's unlikely to work more than once through the batting order. Khristian Curtis and Antwone Kelly are both well-rested arms capable of covering multiple frames out of the bullpen once Dotel's day is done.

SEPTEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Jones throws 6 strong innings, Mangum doubles in run in Pirates' 1-0 win over Angels

Jared Jones pitched six strong innings, Jake Mangum had an RBI double in the second inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on Friday night

SEPTEMBER 5 • Associated Press

Rejoining Pirates' bullpen The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Pirates desperately need a fresh arm to cover innings in the bullpen, and Dotel should be first in line for that assignment. He's collected a 4.71 ERA and 31:13 K:BB over 28.2 frames covering 15 appearances out of the Pirates' bullpen this season.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Sent back to Triple-A The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Impact In need of a fresh arm after recording two innings of work Saturday, Dotel has been demoted to Indianapolis. The 23-year-old has bounced back and forth between Pittsburgh and Triple-A, owning a 1-4 record, 4.71 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB at the big-league level. The Pirates elevated Hunter Barco to replace Dotel on the active roster.

AUGUST 16 • ROTOWIRE

Rejoins big-league bullpen The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Impact Dotel has made 14 appearances for the Pirates this season, collecting a 5.06 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 26.2 innings. He's taking the roster spot vacated by Yohan Ramirez (paternity) and could be sent back down in a few days when Ramirez returns.

AUGUST 14 • ROTOWIRE

Demoted to Indianapolis Pittsburgh optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Impact Dotel made five appearances with the big-league club since being activated from the injured list July 18. In 14 games in the majors, the 23-year-old posted a 5.06 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 26.2 innings. Dotel is being sent to Triple-A in order to make room for recently activated Evan Sisk.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates cut ties with veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna after a nightmarish slump amid playoff chase

The Pittsburgh Pirates have cut ties with veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna as they gear up for a playoff push

AUGUST 5 • Associated Press

Tagged with loss Dotel (1-3) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Diamondbacks after allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk across two innings. He didn't strike out anyone.

Impact Dotel pitched the 11th and 12th innings, and he gave up the deciding run of the game in the 12th frame on an RBI single from James McCann that scored Tyler Locklear. Dotel has yet to allow an earned run in three outings and six innings since returning from the injured list July 18 after missing more than a month with a lat problem. He owns a 4.44 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP across 24.1 innings and 12 outings with the Pirates in 2026.

JULY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Activated, named 27th man The Pirates reinstated Dotel (lat) from the injured list Saturday and appointed him as their 27th man for the team's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Impact Dotel landed on the injured list June 13 with a right lat strain. Since then, he's made three rehab appearances in the minors and given up one run on three hits and three walks while fanning seven batters in 4.2 innings. Now fully healthy, he'll help the Pirates' bullpen get through Saturday's twin bill before likely heading back to Triple-A Indianapolis.

JULY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates Injury Update: Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz timelines, Wilber Dotel rehab, Endy Rodríguez The Pittsburgh Pirates received encouraging updates Sunday on two key injured bats, with general manager Ben Cherington saying both Oneil Cr...

JULY 7 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Another rehab outing awaits Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Dotel (lat) will make another rehab appearance with a minor-league affiliate Tuesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-G...

Impact Dotel tossed a scoreless frame for Double-A Altoona during the first appearance of his rehab assignment June 27, but he hasn't pitched since. The right-hander doesn't appear to have suffered a setback in his recovery from a lat strain, as the Pirates opted to have him throw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Friday, per MLB.com. Dotel will now head back to the minors Tuesday for what could be a final tune-up outing before he returns from the 15-day injured list.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates Injury Update: Oneil Cruz progress, Wilber Dotel rehab assignment, Spencer Horwitz The Pittsburgh Pirates are still waiting for Oneil Cruz’s bat to return to the lineup, but his latest rehab step offers a much-needed sign o...

JUNE 29 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Beginning assignment Saturday Dotel (lat) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Altoona on Saturday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Dotel has been on the injured list with a right lat strain since June 13. It's unclear how many tune-up outings the Pirates will have him make, but he could be cleared to rejoin Pittsburgh's bullpen before the end of the month.

JUNE 27 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates Injury Update: Konnor Griffin rehab assignment, Oneil Cruz next steps, Wilber Dotel The Pittsburgh Pirates received a mixed bag of injury updates on two of their most important young position players Sunday, with Konnor Grif...

JUNE 22 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Completes side session Dotel (lat) tossed a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Impact According to general manager Ben Cherington, Dotel's fastball sat around 96 mph during the session, just a couple ticks behind his season-long average (98.2). The Pirates placed Dotel on the 15-day injured list June 13 due to a right lat strain, but he looks on track to avoid an extended absence and could be ready to rejoin the Pittsburgh bullpen by late June.

JUNE 22 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates injury update: Oneil Cruz timeline, Konnor Griffin rehab, Wilber Dotel The Pittsburgh Pirates received a clearer picture of Oneil Cruz's recovery timeline on Sunday, though the news still leaves them without one...

JUNE 14 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Dealing with lat strain The Pirates placed Dotel on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.

Impact Dotel gave up four earned runs in just 1.2 innings during his appearance Friday, and his strained lat may have been a factor in his poor performance. He'll now remain out until at least June 28, and the Pirates will bring up Brandan Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the void in their bullpen.

JUNE 13 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins beat the Pirates 8-3 for their 6th straight victory

Owen Caissie had a two-run double to cap a four-run seventh inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3 on Friday night for their sixth straight victory

JUNE 13 • Associated Press

Reynolds hits 2-run homer in 9th to lift the Pirates past the Twins, 6-5

Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning — after Oneil Cruz hit a mammoth shot early — to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Tw...

MAY 30 • Associated Press

WILBER DOTEL NEWS

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INJURIES

Alex Bregman hits his 25th homer and the Cubs pound the Pirates 12-2 to end their 4-game skid

Jones throws 6 strong innings, Mangum doubles in run in Pirates' 1-0 win over Angels

Pirates cut ties with veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna after a nightmarish slump amid playoff chase

Marlins beat the Pirates 8-3 for their 6th straight victory

Reynolds hits 2-run homer in 9th to lift the Pirates past the Twins, 6-5