Top pitching prospect reportedly set to make Pirates debut

The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to call up another key piece of their future.

On Wednesday, MLB.com's Alex Stumpf revealed that the Pirates will promote top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler to the majors. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Chandler will be added to the Pirates roster on Friday and pitch in a long relief role.

Chandler is ranked as the seventh-best prospect in baseball and the top pitching prospect overall, per MLB.com. His upper-90s fastball and improving slider are both considered plus offerings. Chandler also throws a changeup that has flashed the potential to be a plus pitch and an occasional curve.

The 22-year-old's minor league season has been a tale of two halves. He had posted a 2.03 ERA and a 1.069 WHIP over his first 48.2 innings, striking out 69 batters with 21 walks. Chandler held opponents to a meager .181/.289/.251 batting line over 197 plate appearances, and seemed ready for the majors.

That changed when the calendar flipped to June. Chandler has posted a 5.96 ERA and a 1.870 WHIP over 51.1 innings since June 1, striking out 52 batters with 32 walks. He has particularly struggled over his last six Triple-A outings, allowing 22 runs on 37 hits and 16 walks over 28.1 innings.

If Chandler can right the ship at the major league level, he would be a part of what could be a formidable young rotation in Pittsburgh. 

Paul Skenes has emerged as one of the best starters in the majors, while Jared Jones and Braxton Ashcraft were both well-regarded pitching prospects in their own right. 

If ownership is willing to invest any resources into improving the lineup, the Pirates could surprise in 2026.