Pittsburgh Pirates top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler is headed to the majors.
The club will promote the 22-year-old Friday for his debut at PNC Park, a move reported by multiple outlets, including Alex Stumpf of MLB.com.
Chandler is the No. 7 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. The Pirates selected him in the third round of the 2021 draft, signing him away from a football commitment to Clemson with a $3 million bonus. He began his career as a two-way player before focusing full time on pitching in 2023, then quickly ascending to the top of the system.
After a strong finish to 2023, including a 7-1 record with a 1.66 ERA to close out the year across two levels, Chandler reached Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024.
This season he has struck out 121 hitters over 100 innings, with a 4.05 ERA across 24 starts. His command has fluctuated, but his ability to generate swings and misses has kept him among the most exciting arms in the minors.
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The Pirates plan to use Chandler as a bulk reliever at first, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, similar to rookie right-hander Braxton Ashcraft. He could also ultimately get an opportunity to start this season, as the long-term expectation is that he will be part of the rotation.
Chandler has credited his progress to leaning on teammates and coaches.
“I learned to talk to those guys, to not be afraid to ask a question,” he told Hiles last year. “If I could get something out of them, then I was going to look at that person differently.”
His promotion arrives after the Aug. 15 service-time date, ensuring he can keep rookie eligibility in 2026 if he stays under 50 innings.
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Featured image via Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images