Pirates Star Prospect Earns Player of the Week Honors
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have a number of pitchers coming through the system, including one who who starred recently.
Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler of the Indianapolis Indians at Triple-A earned Interntational Pitcher of the Week honors, for his performance in the 6-0 win against the Nashville Sounds Friday night on the road.
Chandler pitched 7.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one walk and making six strikeouts in his first start at Triple-A.
League already taking notice on Bubba. 🔥
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) August 12, 2024
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The Pirates recently assigned Chandler to the Indians, calling him up from Altoona Curve of Double-A on Aug. 8.
Chandler played for North Oconee High School in Bogart, Ga., 60 miles east of Atlanta. He starred in multiple sports, including basketball, golf, football and baseball. He originally committed to Georgia to play baseball, but then decommitted and committed to Clemson to play both football and baseball.Â
He had a fantastic senior season for North Oconee, going 8-1 with just a 1.25 ERA, plus 96 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched, while hitting .411 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 35 RBI.
The Pirates would select Chandler with the No, 72 overall pick in the Third Round of the 2021 MLB Draft and signed him for $3 millon signing bonus, an over slot signing.Â
He pitched and also played shortstop for the Rookie-Level Florida Complex Pirates in 2021 and 2022 and then earned promotion to the Bradenton Marauders in the Single-A Florida State League.
Chandler chose to focus on pitching heading into the 2023 season, which would show his best talents. He started 24 games for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in High-A, with a 9-4 record, 4.75 ERA in 106.0 innings pitched, making 120 strikeouts to 51 walks and holding hitters to a .265 batting average.
He made it up to Altoona for just one game in 2023, allowing just one hit in five innings of work and getting the win.
Chandler has played all of 2024 in Double-A, starting 16 of 19 games, a 6-7 record, one save, one shutout. He also had a 3.70 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched, allowing 55 hits, 33 earned runs and 26 walks, while making 94 strikeouts and holding hitters to a .192 batting average, along with having a 1.01 WHIP.
His last start came back on Aug. 2 against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, allowing just two hits and one run in 6.0 innings pitched, while making six strikeouts on 80 pitches.
MLB Pipeline ranks Chandler as the No. 49 prospect in their top 100 across baseball, the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and No. 12 pitcher. They also rate him as the highest Pirates prospect.Â
DOMINIC CAMPBELL