By Tiffany Williams –
Pittsburgh Pirates are shaking up their 2026 Major League camp with a swarm of non-roster invites, and the mix screams “high-risk, high-reward.” Beau Burrows, Dominic Fletcher, Joe La Sorsa, Oddanier Mosqueda, Noah Murdock, Ronny Simon, and Davis Wendzel are all in the mix. Let’s break down what this really means.
Beau Burrows has been all over the minors, splitting time between Low-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis, putting up a 2.94 ERA in 37 appearances with one start. That’s fine, but he’s 29. His 17.2 innings in the majors across Detroit and Minnesota from 2020-21 are hardly a highlight reel. The Pirates are gambling that experience plus a decent minor-league track record can translate into something useful.
Dominic Fletcher has shown flashes but never stuck in the big leagues. Last season, he batted .260 with 17 homers in Triple-A Charlotte, but his major league track record is spotty: 12 games with Chicago in 2025 and 72 in 2024. He’s 28, which is old for a “prospect,” but maybe Pittsburgh sees enough power potential to take a flier.
Joe La Sorsa is a reliever who’s bounced between Tampa Bay, Washington, and Cincinnati. His 2.59 ERA in 49 Triple-A outings last year looks solid, but he’s 27, and 46 career MLB games haven’t exactly screamed dominance. He’s the classic “organizational depth” arm.
Oddanier Mosqueda leads the minor leagues in appearances. 55 games last year in Memphis, 55 in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre the year before. That durability is impressive, but a 4.52 ERA and two saves in 65.2 innings show he’s more innings-eater than game-changer. At 26, Pittsburgh clearly values his availability over impact.
Noah Murdock is a Rule 5 Draft casualty. 21 strikeouts in 17 innings for Oakland in 2025, then back to Triple-A Omaha until injury cut him short. He’s 27, mostly unproven, and represents a swing-for-some-upside pick. Risky. Very risky.
Ronny Simon is coming off shoulder surgery, hitting .233 in eight games with Pittsburgh last year after a midseason waiver claim. At 25, the upside is there, but health is a huge question mark. Can he stay on the field?
Davis Wendzel is your classic minor league grinder: 13 homers, 53 RBI in 94 games with Louisville, plus a midseason trade. At 28, he’s more of a bench candidate than a future star.
Pittsburgh isn’t hiding anything—they’re rolling the dice on veterans with some upside, minor league studs who could help if the stars align, and a handful of players who might not even make the roster. This is a camp full of “maybe” and “what if.” For a team trying to climb back to relevance, maybe this bold gamble on depth and reclamation projects is exactly the move—or maybe it’s another collection of near-misses. Either way, it’s going to be messy, and that’s the Pirates’ 2026 Major League camp in a nutshell.
Sports Insider Daily 