Pirates Add Reliever Cam Sanders to Bullpen

The right-hander provides middle relief depth for Pittsburgh's pitching staff.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:24pm

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have called up right-handed relief pitcher Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of their upcoming series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sanders has previous major league experience with the Pirates, making six appearances last season, and will provide additional middle relief depth for the team's bullpen.

Why it matters

The Pirates' bullpen has been an area of focus early in the season, and adding Sanders gives them another option to eat innings and provide rest for the other relievers. His previous struggles at the MLB level mean he'll need to prove his efficiency going forward to solidify a role.

The details

Sanders made seven appearances for Indianapolis this season, posting a 3.00 ERA over six innings with 11 strikeouts. Last year, he had three solid outings for the Pirates before struggling in his final three appearances. The team will be looking for more consistency from him to shore up the middle relief corps.

  • Sanders was called up ahead of the Pirates' series against the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park.
  • He made six appearances for the Pirates in 2025.

The players

Cam Sanders

A right-handed relief pitcher who has previous major league experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The MLB team that has called up Cam Sanders to add depth to their bullpen.

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What they’re saying

“No news on who is going down, as the Pirates will have to option a player to go to Triple-A Indianapolis, but since Sanders is already on the 40-man roster, they won't have to designate someone for assignment.”

— Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter

What’s next

The Pirates will be monitoring Sanders' performance in his latest stint with the major league club, as they look to solidify their bullpen options for the remainder of the season.

The takeaway

Adding Cam Sanders provides the Pirates with another middle relief option to help stabilize their bullpen, but he'll need to show more consistency at the MLB level to earn a regular role.