Report: Top Pitching Prospect to Join Pirates for Much-Anticipated MLB Debut

Somebody will have to be dropped from both the active and 40-man rosters to make room for Chandler. That shouldn’t be too difficult, however, given the number of underachievers on this year’s Pirates squad.

Pirates to Select Bubba Chandler

Stumpf further reports that Chandler will be used as a “bulk reliever,” which old-timers like me used to call “long relief.” The reason for the change in terminology is unknown. Perhaps Costco sponsored the change. (“Now entering the game in bulk relief, brought to you by Costco, where you can buy in bulk. . .”) In any event, it means he’ll be used for multiple innings at a time out of the bullpen.

Former Baltimore Orioles manager and Hall-of-Fame Earl Weaver used to say that long relief was the best way to break in a rookie pitcher. It’s worked well for the Pirates with Braxton Ashcraft, who recently joined the rotation.

“Four Potentially Really Good Pitches”

Roy Ruben Chandler (What? You thought his parents named him “Bubba?”) is a 22-year-old right-handed starting pitcher who’s the Pirates’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 7 prospect in all major league baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Standing at six feet three inches, 218 pounds, he features a triple-digit fastball with vertical movement to go with an effective slider, curve, and changeup. “Four potentially really good pitches” is how general manager Ben Cherington described them to Stumpf last April. He was drafted as a two-way player – a pitcher/shortstop – in the third round of the 2021 June Amateur Draft. After two minor league seasons, where he produced a .189/.329/.364 slash line, he began to concentrate strictly on pitching. It was th e best career move since Bob Dylan picked up an electric guitar.

Chandler earned a promotion to Double-A Altoona late in 2023. Starting the season there in 2024, he was 6-7 with a 3.70 ERA. However, his 1.008 WHIP, 3.25 FIP, opponents’ .189 batting average, and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings (SO/9) indicate he pitched far better than his record and ERA would suggest. That earned him a promotion to Indianapolis, where he was 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA, 1.042 WHIP, and 12.4 SO/9.

In 24 starts this season at Indy, Chandler was 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA, 1.480 WHIP, and 10.9 SO/9. This included tossing six no-hit innings against the Toledo Mud Hens in May. On June 17, his ERA stood at 2.60 and his WHIP at 1.210. Chandler has hit some hard times since, however, which delaye d his promotion to the Pirates. Specifically, he’s been rocked for 29 earned runs in his last 10 starts, covering 44 2/3 innings.

“Best Fastball I’ve Ever Seen”

Chandler’s Pirates teammates have been as anxious as the fans to see him in the bigs. In April, Paul Skenes, who stands as the only reason Chandler isn’t regarded as the Pirates’ greatest pitching prospect since Gerrit Cole, told Stumpf, “He’s going to bring a lot to the staff. I’m fired up to see that. I’m excited.”

Henry Davis, who caught Chandler at Indianapolis, recently spoke to Kevin Gorman of Trib Live. “I’ve seen a lot of good fastballs,” gushed Davis. “He’s got the best fastball I’ve ever seen.” Davis knows of that which he speaks. He’s been Skenes’ catcher since his recall in early April.

Chandler joins fellow Pirates prospects Mike Burrows, who was recalled on May 21, and Ashcraft, who joined the team on Memorial Day. The pitching staff that fans have envisioned is finally beginning to take shape. Can Tom Harrington and Hunter Barco be far behind?