Bryan Mena was never supposed to be the name grabbing attention out of the Pirates’ system this fall. A minor league Rule 5 pick from the Rockies last December, he arrived with the kind of profile that usually slips through the cracks. Instead, he’s forcing people to notice him in the Arizona Fall League.
That’s a sharp turn for a pitcher who was only average, at best, with High-A Greensboro this season and still hasn’t locked down one permanent job on the mound. He logged 14 starts and also made eight relief appearances, and that split role has carried into Glendale. In the AFL, the right-hander has been used as both an opener and a reliever, and the results have been spotless: 10 2/3 innings, no runs allowed.
If he keeps this up, Mena could put himself in position to help the Pirates’ bullpen depth at the upper levels of the minors in 2027.
Some of the progress looks tied to the changes he made during the regular season. Mena trimmed his walk rate from 4.8 BB/9 in 2024 and 2025 to 3.8 in 2026, and that control has held in the AFL, where he’s sitting at 3.4.
The tradeoff is that he may have been around the strike zone a little more often, since his HR/9 rose from 0.8 to 1.9 in 2026. So far in Glendale, though, that hasn’t hurt him.
The Pirates can use whatever bullpen help they can find. More than 20 players worked in relief for Pittsburgh last year, not counting position players, and next season could look similar.
Mena still has to show he can handle better competition in the upper minors, but by midseason he could be in the conversation for long relief. His ability to work as an opener only adds to the appeal.
At minimum, his run in the AFL is taking some of the pressure off former second-rounder Zander Mueth, who has struggled badly with Glendale.
In Other News...
Pirates Face A Tough First Base Question With This Prediction
The Pirates first-base picture is still unsettled enough that outside speculation is starting to fill in the blanks. Bleacher Reports Tim Kelly recently floated Ty France as a possible fit, pointing to the veterans track record, his defensive value and the idea that Pittsburgh could use a steadier presence at the position as it tries to round out the roster.
Still, this is more projection than plan, and the Pirates are not operating without alternatives. The front office has other ways to address first base, which makes France an interesting name to watch but not necessarily the most likely one, especially if Pittsburgh decides to be selective about where it commits money this winter. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Offseason Just Got Tougher Because Of One Lineup Flaw
One of the clearest problems in the Pirates 2026 season was how often their offense stalled against left-handed starting pitchers. The lineup leaned heavily to the left side, and the results followed, with Brandon Lowe and Ryan OHearn among the regulars who did not provide enough damage in those matchups. For a club trying to build a more balanced attack, it was a reminder that roster construction can be just as important as raw talent.
The trouble now is that the offseason does not offer an easy fix. Right-handed bats are not exactly flooding the free-agent market, and the Pirates may have to get creative if they want to change the shape of the lineup. The most obvious path would be to use pitching depth to get there, but moving young arms would come with its own cost, which leaves Pittsburgh with a familiar winter dilemma and one glaring flaw still hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]