Wilber Dotel
Wilber Dotel
Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 178 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/25/2002
Country: Dominican Republic
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2020
Bonus: N/A
40-Man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates signed Dotel in fall 2020. He had some projection and had reached 95 mph. By 2024, he was throwing often in the upper-90s, reportedly reaching 100. He also throws a slider, a cutter and occasionally a change. Dotel hasn’t had good K rates most of the time, but prior to 2024 hitters had little success driving the ball against him; his opponents’ slugging averages each year until then were very low even though he’s a flyball pitcher. When he has trouble, it’s usually walks.
2021-23
Dotel skipped the DSL and debuted in the FCL. He made five starts and six relief appearances, and pitched well apart from a few control meltdowns. One of those, in which he gave up four earned runs without recording an out, inflated his numbers a good deal, but he still finished with a 3.34 ERA. The Pirates sent Dotel back to the FCL for a second season in 2022. He pitched a little better, getting his BB/9 down from 5.5 to 4.2, and opponents batted only .198 against him. He moved up to Bradenton for two appearances and couldn’t throw strikes in those games.
In 2023, Dotel pitched out of the Bradenton rotation. He had a successful season, with a 3.09 ERA. That came in spite of poor walk (5.0 BB/9) and K (6.6 K/9) rates. He was very successful, though, in keeping opponents from hitting the ball hard, as he allowed only a .299 slugging average.
2024
Dotel spent 2024 in the Greensboro rotation, making 25 starts. He impressed scouts with an upper-90s fastball that reportedly reached triple digits, but his performance was uneven. He walked 4.6 per nine innings and gave up 21 home runs in 106.1 IP. His K/9 of 9.0 was below the league average of 10.0. Left-handed hitters were a particular problem. They had an OPS of .891 against him, compared to .670 by right-handed hitters.
Stats
Transactions
October 13, 2020: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.