There’s only one thing that I want more than Bubba Chandler in Pittsburgh… I want my mullet back!
The top prospect in Pittsburgh’s system, Bubba Chandler, made headlines this past weekend as he made his Triple-A debut on the mound Saturday against the Nashville Sounds. His performance was near perfect as he pitched seven scoreless innings while also only allowing two hits and one walk.
The Indianapolis Indians have seen multiple high-profile prospects be called up this year, but Chandler being called up carried perhaps more significance than others as he has quickly blossomed into one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. The leaps and bounds that he has taken as a young player are starting to show and Saturday’s performance was a great preview of what could be another elite arm added to Pittsburgh’s rotation in due time.
Of course a lot of this is just business as usual for the youngest player on the Indians’ roster, stating that the team and game plan going into his first Triple-A start surrounded him with support as he prepared to take the next step in his career.
Bubba Chandler just DOMINATED his AAA debut
7.0IP, 2H, 0R, 0R, 1BB, 6SO’s
Took him just 85 pitches. Mind you…this was his Triple A DEBUT
What a start.
— Christian✞ (@CWolfPGH) August 10, 2024
“In the clubhouse, guys are a little older and a little more experienced,” Chandler said. “It’s been great being around them, picking some guys’ brains.”
This performance is coming off the heels of what has been a great year in Double-A for Chandler, who in his last start with Altoona allowed just one run, three hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts. The growth in his control has been telling as he is walking batters at a far fewer rate, and his changeup is showing great improvement as well. With the promotion to Triple-A, Chandler’s pitching data can be tracked further, and it’s clear that his go-to weapons are his fastball and his slider. Saturday saw him throw 36 fastballs and his slider was thrown 34 times.
Bubba Chandler makes a statement in his Triple-A debut
The @Pirates‘ No. 1 prospect spins seven scoreless frames with six punchouts for the @indyindians and averages 97.2 mph with his heater. pic.twitter.com/6WrgQ8tIuz
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 10, 2024
With an expected Major League debut of 2025, Chandler is showing great stuff and great promise. Currently rated the number nine overall right-handed pitching prospect, Bubba Chandler has exploded onto the scene as one of the most exciting prospects in all of baseball and could be a great addition to the Pirates’ pitching staff.