Bubba

Chandler

Chandler is on quite a roll since moving up; he has a 1.59 ERA and a 46/13 K/BB ratio in 34 innings over six starts. Including his time in Double-A, he’s up to 140 strikeouts in 114 1/3 innings for the season.

With the Pirates continuing to fade from playoff contention, the odds are becoming increasingly long that fantasy managers will get a glimpse of Chandler in the big leagues. The 21-year-old has re-established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball this season with a dominant run at Triple-A over the last few weeks, posting a pristine 1.17 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 28/6 K/BB ratio across 23 innings (four starts).

Chandler has looked like one of the top pitching prospects in baseball for a couple months at this juncture as he continues to dominate on the doorstep of the big leagues. The 21-year-old athletic righty has reeled off 13 consecutive scoreless frames in a pair of starts since being promoted earlier this month to Triple-A and also holds a sparkling 17/3 K/BB ratio during that span. It’s unclear whether the Pirates have the appetite to call him up as they continue to fade from playoff contention, but he offers enough strikeout upside to make a legitimate impact for fantasy managers right away.

Chandler took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his Triple-A debut on Friday and was averaging a crisp 97.2 mph on his fastball. The 21-year-old right-hander earned the promotion to the doorstep of the majors last week after a dominant run at Double-A Altoona where he posted a sparkling 3.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 94/26 K/BB ratio across 80 1/3 innings (19 appearances, 16 starts). He’s a borderline top five pitching prospect from a dynasty standpoint. He’s probably ready to help Pittsburgh right now, if they want to entertain the idea.

Chandler, who MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf reports has since been promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis, has been one of the big risers this season in dynasty starting pitcher rankings as he’s seemingly turned the metaphorical corner from a command standpoint in the upper minors, cutting back on the free passes and home runs, while maintaining a near-elite strikeout rate. The 21-year-old top prospect has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 11 outings dating back to May 29 and holds a solid 3.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 94/26 K/BB ratio across 80 1/3 innings (19 appearances, 16 starts) this season overall at the Double-A level.

The 21-year-old top prospect wound up making five appearances in his first professional season — posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio over 6 2/3 innings across three minor league levels. He’s a longshot to crack the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation, but don’t be surprised if we see him at some point in 2024. The 12 other players invited to major league spring training were INF Andres Alvarez, C Carter Bins, INF Jack Brannigan, RHP Bubba Chandler, OF Matt Gorski, C Abrahan Gutierrez, RHP Thomas Harrington, INF Termarr Johnson, RHP Jared Jones, INF Joe Perez, LHP Anthony Solameto and RHP Sean Sullivan.

Chandler will move up after going 9-4 with a 4.75 ERA and a 120/51 K/BB in 106 innings for high-A Greensboro. The former two-way player has focused solely on pitching this year after hitting .196/.331/.382 in 124 plate appearances last season.

Chandler allowed two hits, and he struck out two. The Pirates signed Chandler to a $3 million bonus to keep him away from a chance to play football and baseball at Clemson, and he’s a legitimate two-way prospect now that he’s in the system. On the mound, he’s a right-hander with the potential for two plus offerings in his fastball and curve along with an average change, and he also has a cutter/slider for good measurement. In the field, the 19-year-old has plus power and well above-average speed, and he’s an excellent defender for good measure. Chandler is more likely to end up on the mound than in the dirt, but there’s a real chance he can do both, and it makes him a very intriguing fantasy prospect that has a chance to help in the second half of the decade.