4 weeks agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler tossed one shutout inning during Thursday's victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Chandler served up one free pass but did not allow a hit. He also did not tally a punchout. However, this was a nice rebound for the budding ace as he allowed one hit, one walk, and one run during his first outing. The 22-year-old is currently fighting for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. Last summer, Chandler opened the campaign by receiving his second look at Double-A and eventually made his Triple-A debut. In 80 1/3 innings at Double-A, the right-hander posted a 3.70 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP. However, at Triple-A, the former third round pick logged 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A and held a 1.83 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He tallied 54 punchouts with 15 walks. If he happens to break the Opening Day roster, he will have value in all formats given his success in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher prospect
Bubba Chandler made his spring debut on Sunday and faced four batters. While he allowed one hit and walked a batter, his stuff appeared to be as advertised. The 22-year-old featured his four-seamer and slider, striking out one hitter as well, and the fastball clocked in as high as 99.1 mph. With a strong impression this spring, the righty has a decent chance to make the big league club out of camp with question marks lingering behind Pittsburgh's top three starters,
Paul Skenes,
Mitch Keller, and
Jared Jones. Chandler impressed during his short time at Triple-A last season, posting a 1.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 24.5 percent K-BB% over 39 1/3 IP, and is MLB's 15th-ranked prospect overall. The former third-rounder is worth consideration at the end of most drafts but would be a slam dunk value if it looks like he'll make the Opening Day roster, so keep a close eye on any developments.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB Pipeline
1 month agoMLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo gives Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching prospect Chandler Jones a 45 percent chance to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training. Chandler, who is ranked as the 15th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2025, could give Pittsburgh a dominant triumvirate of right-handed prospects in addition to reigning National League Rookie of the Year
Paul Skenes and
Jared Jones. The 22-year-old had an impressive 1.83 ERA in seven starts for Triple-A Indianapolis last year while posting a 3.08 ERA with 148 strikeouts in 119 2/3 total innings in the minors in 2024. Chandler also limited his opponents to a .189 batting average. He's one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and features a high-90s fastball with movement and a nasty slider as his two best offerings, also adding a plus changeup. We should see Chandler in 2025 at some point if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Michael Avallone
2 months agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Tuesday that right-handed pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler, the No. 15 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, will be a non-roster invite to big-league spring training this year. In addition to Chandler, infielder Konnor Griffin (No. 43), right-hander
Thomas Harrington (No. 80) and infielder
Termarr Johnson (No. 83) received non-roster invites. Chandler, 22, was a third-round pick by the Bucs in 2021 and is expected to make his major-league debut in 2025 after going 10-7 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 148 strikeouts and 41 walks in 119 2/3 inning over 26 outings (23 starts) for Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last year. If he impresses this spring, it's not out of the question that he could win an Opening Day rotation spot in Pittsburgh. With a high-90s fastball, biting slider and developing changeup, Chandler has the potential to be a future ace.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
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