3 high-ceiling Pirates prospects to watch in 2025

A high-ceiling prospect is a player who, if they reach their potential, will be extremely productive. Typically, these are players with elite power potential, or a pitch or two that project as plus or better, who are trying to develop the whole package.

Most, however, also have a low floor attached, as they have a glaring hole in their game they're trying to fill swiftly. Many of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ high-ceiling prospects are in the lower levels of the minor leagues, but fans should know about some of these prospects for the 2025 season, as they could be one breakout season or adjustment away from becoming one of the Pirates’ best prospects.

3 Pirates prospects who are one adjustment away from a 2025 breakout

Wilber Dotel

Wilber Dotel is one of the many notable pitching prospects in the Pirates’ system. He saw a huge uptick in stuff last season, and while he still needs to sharpen up his command, he at least has the potential to be a force out of the bullpen. Still, if Dotel can locate better in 2025, he’ll shoot up prospect boards.

Dotel’s bottom line wasn’t great in 2024; he had just a 5.33 ERA, 5.77 FIP, and 1.43 WHIP. His 22.8% strikeout rate wasn't exceptional, but he struggled more with home runs and walks. Dotel allowed home runs at a 1.68-per-9 rate and handed out a free pass to 11.6% of the batters he faced.

Dotel became one of the Pirates’ hardest-throwing pitching prospects last season. The right-hander averaged a pedestrian 92.7 MPH with his four-seam fastball in 2023 but, this past season, he saw a massive +3.1 MPH increase to 95.8 MPH. According to Baseball America, only two other pitchers in the minor leagues saw a larger increase in fastball velocity. He even hit triple digits last year.

To separate from his four-seamer, Dotel also throws a low-90s two-seamer. He also altered his slider to go from a low-80s slurve to an upper-80s slider. Dotel also features a decent changeup that clocks in around the upper-80s. It has some decent fading action. Dotel’s control can get in the way, and his sequencing needs improving as well.

But Dotel just turned 22 in September. If he can improve his control just a bit more, he’ll become a very interesting prospect to watch. The stuff is there. He has four pitches that project as average or better and tops out at 100 MPH. His ability to locate and sequence his pitches better will be the deciding factor in his long-term role and projection.