Sending Wilber Dotel to the hill during a low-scoring tie game Monday showed the team has trust in the rookie with four prior MLB appearances.

It wasn’t a cameo appearance, either. Dotel, the Pirates’ No. 11 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, stayed out there for an extended three-inning outing.

During the Pirates’ 2-1 Memorial Day win at PNC Park over the Chicago Cubs, Dotel responded to his ballclub’s trust with a solid outing and was in turn rewarded with his first big-league victory.

“It’s awesome,” manager Don Kelly said postgame. “Three innings out of the ‘pen in that situation in such a close game. Mixed, changed speeds, threw strikes. He was tremendous.”

Dotel (1-0, 1.69 ERA) took over for Carmen Mlodzinski in the sixth inning with the score tied at one.

He stayed on through the eighth, allowing zero runs, one hit, no walks and four strikeouts. Dotel threw 41 pitches in the outing, 28 of which were strikes.

“I feel really comfortable in that situation,” Dotel said through interpreter and Pirates assistant coach Stephen Morales. “That’s what I used to do. My job is to eat innings. If they need me for one or for three or four, I’ll be ready.”

Dotel refers to the Pirates deploying him as a starting pitcher for the vast majority of his minor-league career.

After advancing to Triple-A Indianapolis this season, the 23-year-old Dotel made a handful of relief appearances for the Indians, but previously, he started 27 games for the Altoona Curve in 2025 and 25 for the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2024.

In total, 85 of Dotel’s 101 minor-league appearances have been as a starter.

With the Pirates, he’s pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, Monday being his fifth big-league game this season.

Dotel made his MLB debut with the Pirates in mid-April when he was recalled from Triple-A and made three appearances.

Monday was Dotel’s second outing with the Pirates following another recall May 20.

“Looks a little more comfortable now, getting some innings under his belt and starting to understand how to attack guys,” Kelly said of Dotel.

Dotel relied chiefly on his four-seam fastball and slider Monday, which combined for about 73% of his total pitches.

The lone hit Chicago managed off of Dotel came during his first inning, a two-out Moises Ballesteros single during the sixth.

But from there, Dotel allowed no more baserunners, recording strikeouts of Miguel Amaya, Ian Happ, Alex Bregman and Michael Conforto before closer Gregory Soto came on for the ninth.

“It’s strong right now,” Dotel said of his confidence. “It all comes from my hard work and then trusting my abilities. … I’m doing the same thing, showing that I’m fearless and if you have the control on the mound when you’re pitching, there’s no reason to be scared on the mound or have fear.”

Mlodzinski, who turned in a five-inning start, allowing one run while taking a no-decision, was impressed by the poise of Dotel.

“That was great,” Mlodzinski said. “I feel like he went right after guys. It was a 1-1 game and it looked like we were winning 10-0, which is a compliment to his composure on the mound, which is super-important in a game that is close. For somebody who is a rookie to be able to do that, it says a lot about the player he is probably going to grow into.”

Dotel played a key role in Monday’s win, but catcher Henry Davis was the hero, as his seventh-inning solo home run off Trent Thornton proved the difference in the contest.

Leaving the yard and producing the game-winning run for his club must have come as a relief for Davis, who entered the day with a .139 batting average.

But being a part of Dotel’s successful afternoon was rewarding as well.

“He’s fearless,” Davis said. “He throws really, really hard and attacks the zone. I think that’s a recipe for success long-term.”

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