Bubba Chandler, one of the most highly touted arms in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, is finally set to take the mound in the big leagues this Friday. At just 22, the right-hander will debut from the bullpen, not as a starter—a move the Pirates hope will help him settle in and catch his breath.
Recent struggles in Triple-A have sparked some questions about his command. Still, Chandler’s lively arm and sky-high potential have fans and the team buzzing about what’s ahead.
From Clemson Commitment to Pirates Prospect
Chandler’s path to Pittsburgh wasn’t exactly straightforward. The Pirates drafted him in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft and handed him a hefty $3 million signing bonus, persuading him to skip out on a quarterback commitment at Clemson.
He started out as a two-way player, juggling hitting and pitching. That didn’t last long.
Becoming a Full-Time Pitcher
By 2022, Chandler and the Pirates agreed it was time to focus only on pitching. His bat just wasn’t cutting it in the low minors, hitting .189, so it faded into the background.
With a fastball that touches the upper 90s and some nasty breaking stuff, Chandler quickly became one of the most exciting young pitchers in the system.
A Mixed Bag in Triple-A
This season in the minors has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He’s racked up a system-leading 121 strikeouts, showing he can blow hitters away at every level.
His 4.05 ERA isn’t bad for a 22-year-old facing tough competition, but it’s not all sunshine.
Command Issues Raise Questions
The past month or so has been rough. Over his last 26 2/3 innings in Triple-A, Chandler walked 16 batters and gave up 22 runs.
The Pirates decided to rethink his big-league debut, hoping a bullpen role will take some pressure off and help him get comfortable before taking on a starter’s workload.
The Bullpen Path to Success
Pittsburgh’s tried this approach before. Earlier this year, they did something similar with Braxton Ashcraft, letting him warm up to the majors through relief appearances before eyeing a rotation spot.
For Chandler, working out of the bullpen gives him a chance to sharpen his command in shorter outings and let his best pitches shine against top hitters.
Why Now? Timing and Rookie Status
The late-August call-up isn’t just about plugging a bullpen hole. By waiting until now, the Pirates keep Chandler’s rookie status intact for 2026.
This move keeps him eligible for MLB’s prospect promotion draft-pick incentives, which reward teams for promoting their best young talent without playing service-time games.
High Praise from Evaluators
Scouts and analysts have been high on Chandler’s upside for a while. Baseball writer Keith Law even ranked him as high as No. 7 among all MLB prospects this year, praising his athleticism and projecting him as a possible No. 1 starter down the line.
That kind of ceiling explains why the Pirates are handling his debut with such care.
Why Pirates Fans Should Be Excited
Bubba Chandler’s arrival feels like a real turning point for a franchise that’s been trying to build around young, controllable talent. That’s not just talk—there are some real reasons for optimism:
- Elite strikeout ability – He racked up 121 strikeouts in the minors, so the swing-and-miss stuff is legit.
- High ceiling projection – Scouts talk about him as a future ace, though he’ll need to tighten up the control.
- Strong developmental path – Starting him in the bullpen? That’s a move that’s worked for other young arms.
- Organizational investment – The Pirates put $3 million on the table for him, which says a lot about how much they believe in his future.
Chandler takes the mound this Friday, and honestly, everyone’s going to be watching the radar gun and the strike zone. If he can find his groove and adjust fast, who knows—this debut might be the spark that kicks off something special in Pittsburgh’s rotation.
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