Wilber Dotel to Start Grapefruit League Opener for Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates open up the Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Florida. Wilber Dotel will get the opportunity to start, and will likely pitch the first two innings.
Since signing with the Pirates in 2020, Dotel has seen a significant increase with his fastball velocity; going from low-90’s to upper-90’s. The slider is a plus offering, while he also incorporated a new splitter into his repertoire last year.
Dotel spent the 2025 season pitching for the Altoona Curve, where he posted a 4.15 ERA, along with a 3.89 FIP, and a 3.63 xFIP. In 125.2 innings, he fanned 131 batters, for a 9.4 K/9.
This offseason, the Pirates protected Dotel from the Rule 5 Draft by adding him to the 40-man roster.
Entering 2026, Dotel is ranked the ninth best Pirates prospect, according to Baseball America. There’s a good chance the 23-year-old righty begins the season at AAA Indianapolis.