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With the Pittsburgh Pirates' major league season over, attention has shifted to the Arizona Fall League, where several prospects are aiming to make an impression for 2027. Among the eight Pirates representatives out west, right-hander Zander Mueth stands out as a player who desperately needs a strong showing.
Mueth, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher, has seen his development stalled by injuries over the past two seasons. In 2025 and 2026 combined, he appeared in just 26 games and threw only 51.1 innings. His 2025 campaign was disrupted when he suffered an injury in his second start, returned in late June, and then landed back on the injured list in August. The following year, another injury kept him out for two-and-a-half months from early May to late July, further impeding his progress.
When on the mound for Single-A Bradenton, Mueth has struggled with command and consistently finding the strike zone. In 2025, he posted a 0-4 record with a 7.36 ERA over 22 innings, striking out 28 but walking 25, while allowing a .259 batting average against and a 2.14 WHIP. His 2026 numbers were even worse: a 0-3 record in 13 appearances (nine starts), a 9.18 ERA over 33.1 innings, 28 strikeouts against 33 walks, a .283 BAA, and a 2.07 WHIP.
His difficulties have carried over to the Arizona Fall League. In three outings so far, Mueth has an 11.57 ERA, yielding three earned runs in 2.1 innings with six walks and four strikeouts. Such performances have raised questions about his future with the Pirates.
Key Analysis
Selected by Pittsburgh in the 2023 MLB Draft with the 67th overall pick in Competitive Balance Round B, Mueth signed for $1.80 million, which was $670,000 above slot value. The Pirates have enjoyed success with other pitchers from that draft, notably first overall pick Paul Skenes and 12th-rounder Khristian Curtis, but Mueth currently lags far behind. He bypassed a commitment to Mississippi to turn pro and, at just 21, still has time to correct his issues. On the North Shore Nine podcast, Mueth mentioned adjusting his arm slot to a higher angle and said he no longer overthinks his mechanics. Nevertheless, fixing his command and staying healthy are imperative if he hopes to fulfill his potential.