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When is Bubba Chandler getting called up? Will Bubba Chandler pitch in May of this MLB season? Read about Bubba Chandler's debut date and fantasy baseball prospect updates for 2025.
Another season is underway, and Pittsburgh Pirates fans are again patiently awaiting the arrival of another promising mustachioed right-handed hurler. As Paul Skenes twirls in the big leagues, Bubba Chandler is spinning gems at Triple-A.
After a dominant string of seven starts at Triple-A to finish last season, the righty has moved up to the 14th-ranked prospect in all of baseball per MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list.
But when are the Pirates going to call up Chandler? Will it be this year? If so, could he be here by midseason? Could it be sooner than that? Let's take a look.
Bubba Chandler Prospect Update for Fantasy Baseball
A former third-round draft pick in 2021, Chandler didn't debut with the club's minor league complex affiliate until 2022, and while strikeout numbers looked good, command was not.
The 2023 season saw some improvement in command with strikeouts, but an uninspiring 4.75 ERA in 24 starts at High-A did not scream "top prospect." However, the 6-foot-3 hurler took a major step forward in 2024, posting a 3.70 ERA in 19 appearances at Double-A to go with a 21.2 percent K-BB percentage.
He performed even better in seven Triple-A starts, posting a 1.83 ERA and a 24.5 percent K-BB%. Back at Triple-A to begin the 2025 campaign, Chandler has logged four starts thus far, recording a 1.76 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and an elite 30.4 percent K-BB percentage over 15 1/3 innings pitched.
Therein lies the problem, though. In his latest start, Pittsburgh's top prospect set season highs in innings and pitches, totaling four-and-a-third and 69, respectively. The Pirates will want to get him a bit more stretched out before awarding a promotion, so fans and fantasy managers will have to wait.
Bubba Chandler Outlook for Fantasy Baseball
The Pirates sit at 9-15, dead last in the National League Central. They are using Carmen Mlodzinski as their fifth starter, who had only five career starts under his belt coming into the year, out of 75 total appearances. Mlodzinski owns a 7.41 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, and a 7.3 percent K-BB percentage in 17 IP.
Fourth starter, lefty Bailey Falter, exited Tuesday's start with back tightness, and the status for his next start is uncertain. To say the Pirates could use Chandler in the big leagues would be an understatement.
Be that as it may, general manager Ben Cherington recently stated that they are managing his innings early so that he can help the team win later, and that the pitcher wouldn't get built up until May, which means a June call-up might be the most optimistic of scenarios.
When the 22-year-old finally arrives, the impact can be felt immediately. He brings a 70-grade four-seam fastball that recently touched 101.5 mph, complemented by a strong slider and changeup.
Bubba Chandler's strikeout velo today:
98.6 mph
93.5
99.1
93.3
100.0
101.5@Pirates | @YoungBucsPIT | @indyindians pic.twitter.com/ADMEH3epQK— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 13, 2025
Fellow top pitching prospect Thomas Harrington, who already made one start this season in the majors, may be the next name called up from the minors to help fill the short-term rotation needs, but Chandler will be up within the next two months.
Currently rostered in 23 percent of Yahoo! leagues, fantasy managers should consider stashing the Georgia native ahead of his eventual call-up so as not to miss out on waivers, especially in those leagues with an NA roster spot.
Top Prospect Rankings and Call-Up ETAs
Make sure to check out the rest of RotoBaller's fantasy baseball prospect stash rankings. Eric Cross updates these rankings weekly for the top impact prospects for fantasy in 2025.
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