MLB Analyst Highlights Pirates Player To Watch In Spring Training

The Pirates hope to improve this season, and all eyes will be on the pitching staff.

Pittsburgh’s 1-2-3 punch of Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and Mitch Keller are the key names of the rotation. After that, it’s a competition for the final spots on the Opening Day roster.

ESPN analyst Alden Gonzalez identified one player from each team to watch in spring training. For the Pirates, Gonzalez chose top prospect Bubba Chandler.

“The Pirates’ rotation has the makings of something special,” Gonzalez wrote Friday. “Paul Skenes, who finished third in Cy Young voting as a rookie last year, clearly leads it. But Jared Jones also has star potential, Mitch Keller has been really good for three years, Bailey Falter was solid last season and Johan Oviedo is back from Tommy John surgery. At some point soon, Chandler could join that mix.

“A third-round pick out of high school in 2021, Chandler graduated to Triple-A last summer, posting a 1.83 ERA in seven International League starts, and came in at No. 11 in McDaniels’ Top 100. He’s in major league camp this spring, and though it’s a longshot to see him crack the Opening Day roster, keep in mind we said the same thing about Jones last year.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton will give Chandler a chance, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Oviedo and Falter got the nods on Opening Day. However, seeing Chandler’s talents at Pirate City will be exciting to watch, especially after seeing Skenes’ and Jones’ breakouts last year.

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