The Pirates are obviously looking toward the future. With a top 5 farm team, several baseball experts believe Pittsburgh can be “dangerous” next year and start to contend in 2024.
Eyes have been on prospects like catcher Henry Davis, second baseman Nick Gonzales and pitcher Quinn Priester, but one of their top picks from last year had quite an impressive outing on Friday.
Right handed pitcher and shortstop Bubba Chandler started for the Pirates rookie team in the Florida Complex League, also known as the rookie level before being promoted to Low-A or High-A.
Eighth in the Pirates farm system, according to MLB Pipeline, the 19-year-old has four no-hit innings with seven strikeouts for the Pirates black FCL team.
John Dreker with Pirates Prospects says that Chandler has now gone over 12 innings without allowing a hit with 22 strikeouts during that time.
Chandler struck out the Orioles FCL team all swinging in the bottom of the first.
In 15.1 innings this season, Chandler has yet to give up and earned run, allowing three hits and striking out 27.
On the offensive side of the game, Chandler is batting .231 over 26 at bats. He has six hits, three home runs and nine RBI with a stolen base. His slugging percentage is .654 with an on-base percentage of 1.098.
Chandler’s ETA to the Big Leagues is currently 2025, but even after he was drafted there was talk about his potential future hitting and pitching in the MLB, much like current superstar Shohei Ohtani.
After he was drafted in the third round, Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington talked about that potential, with Chandler excelling as a pitcher and position player.
“We had a lot of conversation with Bubba about that,” said Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. “It’s something that is important to him. He is legitimately talented on both sides. We want to take a look at that. We do believe there’s really big upside as a pitcher.”
Chandler was 8-1 with a 1.25 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 44.2 innings including a 17-strikeout performance in a playoff game for North Oconee High School in Georgia. The 6’3”, 200-pounder also hit .411 with 12 doubles, 8 home runs, 35 RBI as the shortstop as a senior. He was selected first-team All-American as a multi-position athlete.
Chandler is quite a while away from the majors, but if he develops as a hitter and a pitcher, the Pirates may be faced with a difficult decision.
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