The Pittsburgh Pirates are preparing to introduce a promising pitching talent, Bubba Chandler, aiming to replicate the success seen with star Paul Skenes rising pitching phenom. Chandler is set to make his Major League debut on Friday, August 22, 2025, facing the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park, signaling a hopeful future for the franchise’s pitching staff.
Chandler’s Journey to the Majors
Bubba Chandler’s progression through the minor leagues has been purposeful and steady. Drafted in the third round of 2021 out of North Oconee High School, where he had nearly committed to Clemson for both baseball and football, Chandler chose to dedicate himself entirely to pitching. Over 372 innings, he has amassed an impressive 457 strikeouts, reflecting his dynamic pitching ability and athleticism.
Strong Arm and Early Success in Triple-A
This season with Triple-A Indianapolis, Chandler has recorded a 5-6 win-loss record with a 4.05 ERA across 100 innings, striking out 121 batters. His fastball reaches speeds close to 98 mph, paired with a sharp slider and potential to develop into a more diverse four-pitch repertoire. Early on, he showed clear dominance: in his first 11 starts, Chandler maintained a 2.03 ERA, struck out 12.8 batters per nine innings, and limited opponents to a .181 batting average.
Challenges and Organizational Confidence
Despite a difficult stretch in August where Chandler allowed 10 runs over 12 innings, resulting in a 7.50 ERA for three starts, the Pirates’ management remains optimistic about his potential. They believe exposure to Major League hitters will help refine his skills and mental toughness. Manager Don Kelly plans to integrate Chandler carefully, initially using a bullpen role. This approach mirrors the development of Pittsburgh pitchers Braxton Ashcraft and current stars like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones.
Gradual Integration for Long-Term Success
Though Chandler is ultimately envisioned as a starting pitcher, beginning in the bullpen will give him a chance to acclimate to big-league competition, benefit from the guidance of veterans, and learn from the coaching staff. His promotion strengthens the Pirates’ rotation depth, joining talented arms like Skenes, who is expected to lead the staff, and Ashcraft, who has already shown promise. This trio could form one of <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB’s most exciting rotations by 2026.
Chandler’s debut, though postponed, marks an important milestone in his career. While he may not immediately burst onto the scene as a starter, the Pirates are committed to a gradual development process to build his resilience and polish his talents for a frontline ace role in the future.
“Manager Don Kelly intends to ease Chandler into the rotation via a bullpen role – a strategy that mirrors the development of fellow Pittsburgh arms like Braxton Ashcraft and current stars like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones.” —Don Kelly, Manager