Dennis Santana Pitches for Dominican Republic in WBC Exhibition

Pirates right-hander Dennis Santana made a brief appearance for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition match against the Detroit Tigers on March 3. Santana threw 18 pitches in the fourth inning, recording a strikeout of Jake Rodgers with an 85 mph slider. Santana, who emerged as the Pirates' full-time closer in 2025, finished that campaign with a 2.18 ERA, 16 saves, and 60 strikeouts over 70.1 innings, establishing himself as a vital piece of the team's pitching staff for 2026.