Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler has not pitched more than 5 innings in the month of June in AAA. On Saturday, Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington addressed what he believes is going on with Chandler.
On June 22, Chandler allowed 6 earned runs in 2.2 innings pitched. Cherington says it's just a bump in the road.
"He had such a dominant two months and it's hard to sustain that every outting. He's also in AAA and like everyone else in AAA, they want to be in the Big Leagues," said Cherington.
Despite the struggles in June for Chandler, Cherington says the end the goal is seeing him pitch in the MLB this season.
"We believe it would be a good outcome for Bubba and the Pirates if he is pitching in game in PNC this year. Still want that to be the outcome and believe he will put himself in a position to make that happen."
Chandler has seen his strikeout numbers go from 27 in April, 42 in May, to just 5 in in four starts in the month of June.
"The execution and command has not been what it was. The quality of pitches is still there, the velocity it still there, he's healthy. He's just not dominating the strike zone as much as he was early and not dominating counts as much to put him in the best position. It's led to some messier outtings."
Cherington spoke highly of Chandler and that he will figure this out and get right.
"He's super accountable. He knows what he has to do to put himself back in a good spot."