Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.
This year, the Pirates’ top prospect got to start the Spring Breakout game Friday at BayCare Ballpark, a 5-3 Bucs loss, and while he brought the heat again, the pregame routine was slightly modified.
“Red Bulls don’t have any milligrams of caffeine, which is good, but I crushed a C4 today,” Chandler said with a grin. “So, yeah, changed it up a little, but it was cool. Starting it is a lot better than closing it, I will say.”
Chandler, the No. 15 prospect in the game according to MLB Pipeline, set the pace for all other top pitching prospects with his performance Friday. After joking with Phillies prospect Justin Crawford pregame that he was going to start with a changeup, he instead opted for five straight fastballs, finishing with a 98.5 mph four-seamer that caught the outer part of the zone for a called third strike. Chandler would end up throwing two perfect innings, striking out four with two ground-ball outs.
It was a showcase of why this 22-year-old right-hander has blossomed into the top young pitcher in this iteration of the Pirates’ pitching development machine. It’s not just because he flirted with triple digits on the radar gun or struck out two Top 100 prospects (Crawford and Eduardo Tait), but also in what we saw in his at-bat against right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. in the second inning. With the count full, Chandler didn’t go back to the fastball, but rather wanted to challenge himself and threw a changeup. Rincones froze and Chandler struck him out.
“Just growing as a pitcher, fastballs can get you through levels, but at the same time, in the big leagues, you've got to be able to mix, and that's kind of my thought behind everything," Chandler said. "[At] 3-2, put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. I love my changeup, I can control it pretty well, let's throw it 3-2. And [catcher] Omar [Alfonzo], me and him are on the same page. He called it, I didn't have to shake to it, and then I executed."
2.0 IP
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) March 14, 2025
0 H
0 R
0 BB
4 K
Bubba Chandler was lights out in the Spring Breakout 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/VLzKbgA2De
Don’t be mistaken, the extra cheddar on his fastball is a big plus too. Chandler threw 11 fastballs at least 98.5 mph, or 99 if you’re into rounding or what flashes up on the screen.
“I’m just really trying to be like Jared Jones,” Chandler said. “But, it was cool. I looked up there, I usually look once an inning just to see where I’m at, just to see if I’m a little sluggish. I looked up there one time and saw it and I’m like, ‘Oh, nice.’”
Chandler tried to be like Jones in another way this spring and try to crack the Opening Day roster. That didn’t happen, as the Pirates reassigned him to Minor League camp on March 6. The Pirates didn’t have enough innings for all of the pitchers they had in camp, and Chandler didn’t make the cut.
That doesn’t at all reflect what the organization thinks about him, and in all likelihood, he’s going to be in the Major Leagues at some point this season.
“My money is on this kid,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said after Chandler was sent down. “He's tough, he's resilient. He takes challenges and he's going to be a really good Major League pitcher."
Friday was a small taste of what he can do in those situations and perform against the best of his contemporaries. A year ago, he was closing out a Spring Breakout game that Paul Skenes started. The two are close and work out together in the offseason, and he’s been the team’s top prospect ever since Skenes graduated, following in his footsteps.
“Having to follow a guy like Paul is, I won't say tough, but I think I can do it,” Chandler said.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Other notable performances Friday include:
Omar Alfonzo: The Pirates' No. 19 prospect went 1-for-3 with a double and a run, and the starting catcher crushed the ball each of his three times to the plate, registering exit velocities of 108.6 mph, 106.5 mph and 104.2 mph.
Tsung-Che Cheng: The Bucs' No. 17 prospect went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI single in the fifth inning that put the Pirates on the board.
Hunter Barco: The club's No. 7 prospect struck out one over two innings of one-run ball. The southpaw touched 97 mph on the radar gun and got five called strikes with his sinker.
Alex Stumpf covers the Pirates for MLB.com.
Shellenback shined during lengthy PCL career
A host of players have piled up astonishing accomplishments over long professional careers on the diamond without making a lasting impression on the game's most celebrated stage. Monsters of the Minors, presented by Uncle Ray's, provides introductions to Minor League legends sometimes overlooked by fans of baseball history.
Fresno's Young motivated to empower others
During Minor League Baseball’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and #ForTheLoveOfBéisbol from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Más Allá del Diamante will feature a Hispanic, Latino, Latina and Latinxs leader from an MiLB community. In this edition, we visit with Jazzmine Young, partnership services manager for the Fresno Grizzlies (Fresno
Fun facts about Triple-A championships
A championship by any other name would still be as sweet to win. And at the Triple-A level, there have been a lot of names. From the first Little World Series in 1904 to the Triple-A National Championship Game fans know today, hundreds of prospects and farmhands have played for
Welcome, citizens: I-Cubs tradition carries on
A pandemic, social upheaval and myriad natural disasters during a tumultuous presidential election cycle may obscure the point, but nonetheless: The United States of America is a desirable place to live. Every year, the Triple-A Iowa Cubs stage a unique ballpark event that makes this sentiment abundantly clear. Since 2009,
El Paso's Rodriguez a model of success, inspiration
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Lunes de Legacy, presented by Nationwide, shines a spotlight on Hispanic, Latino, Latina and Latinx stories throughout MiLB of those who have forged an impressive path and left a legacy in their wake. These individuals have inspired a new generation, currently writing their own
El Paso continues to honor innovative Diablos
When it launched fully in 2018, Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión initiative was based on a mission of community service, inclusiveness and engagement with Latinx fans across the MiLB landscape. In some markets, that’s been a critical thread in franchise identities for decades. In the Southwest, teams have
5-7-5: River Cats' broadcaster pens book of haiku
This past March, Johnny Doskow's long-established baseball routines were completely upended by COVID-19. This was the case for everyone, of course, but Doskow used his newfound free time in a particularly unique manner. The longtime voice of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats penned and summarily self-published his debut book of
Jolley gave smiles to generations of PCL fans
A host of players have piled up astonishing accomplishments over long professional careers on the diamond without making a lasting impression on the game's most celebrated stage. Monsters of the Minors, presented by Uncle Ray's, provides introductions to Minor League legends sometimes overlooked by fans of baseball history.
Chihuahuas help local food bank achieve mission
The El Paso Chihuahuas have partnered with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger for as long as the team has been an existence, establishing ties with the nearby food bank during the team's inaugural season of 2014. From hosting staff volunteer events to conducting food drives at the ballpark, the Chihuahuas have
2020 Minor League Baseball season shelved
Statement from Pacific Coast League President Branch Rickey “Today is a momentous day. The first season cancellation in the 118-year history of the Pacific Coast League. But there is some good to be gleaned from what is obviously an overall very disappointing announcement. “The good that comes to my mind,
Toolshed: Recent noteworthy PCL seasons
This space started honoring the short-season leagues after their respective campaigns were delayed in June. Now following the cancellation of all Minor League Baseball in 2020, we're turning it into an appreciation of the full-season circuits as well. In the coming weeks, Toolshed is revisiting the 10 most notable individual
Chihuahuas lend hand to El Paso nonprofits
Brad Taylor was not worried about a lack of responsiveness when he asked his fellow El Paso Chihuahuas employees to volunteer for the community during this pandemic. No, he knew that they were hankering to pitch in however they could. "They jumped at the opportunity to help and realized it
A's deal speedster Mateo to Padres
In the first move since the Major League roster freeze was lifted last week, the A's shipped their No. 7 prospect, infielder Jorge Mateo, to the Padres for a player to be named or cash considerations. The native of the Dominican Republic is coming off a season in which he
Did you know? Pacific Coast League edition
When it comes to size, scope and longevity, few, if any, sporting bodies can rival Minor League Baseball. With 160 teams in nearly as many markets, there are innumerable nooks and crannies to explore. This marks the second installment in a series dedicated to such explorations, providing one unique, weird,
Mask-making operation is all Aces for Reno
Eric Edelstein had the impulse to pitch in but wasn't exactly sure how."The idea came from trying to do the most good in this time," the Reno Aces president said. "And the two things that I was bouncing against my thought process was supporting our health care workers -- understanding
For nearly 80 years, Arlett's power stood unmatched
A host of players have piled up astonishing accomplishments over long professional careers on the diamond without making a lasting impression on the game's most celebrated stage. This series, Monsters of the Minors, provides introductions to Minor League legends sometimes overlooked by fans of baseball history. In baseball, two-way talents
Sounds good: Nashville embraces rich heritage
With so much focus year after year on the newest and wildest rebranding projects in Minor League Baseball, MiLB.com takes a look at the flip side. This spring and summer, we will be profiling teams with some of the longest continually used nicknames in each league. Next up: the Pacific
Marlins option Harrison, Neidert to Triple-A
Two of the Marlins' top 10 prospects are heading to Triple-A Wichita.Outfielder Monte Harrison, ranked ninth in the system, and right-hander Nick Neidert (No. 10) have been optioned to the Pacific Coast League, the team announced Saturday.
Top prospects among Marlins re-assignments
The Marlins got an excellent look at the future of the franchise during the first month of Spring Training. But the time has come for some potential stars of tomorrow to head back to the Minor League incubator.Top 100 prospects JJ Bleday, Jazz Chisholm and Jesús Sánchez headline a group
Marlins option Sanchez in first wave of cuts
Sixto Sanchez has a bright future ahead, but he'll have to wait a bit to make his first pitch for the Marlins.Miami's top prospect was optioned to Triple-A Wichita along with 19th-ranked Jorge Guzman on Friday as the club made its first 10 roster cuts of Spring Training. Fifth-ranked Edward Cabrera
Adell, Marsh heading back to Angels camp
A preview of the Angels' outfield of the future could be on display when Cactus League games start in three weeks.Los Angeles on Friday extended Spring Training invitations to 19 non-roster players, including top prospects Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh. It will be the second year in a row the
D-backs acquire Beasley from Angels
The D-backs acquired Angels No. 18 prospectJeremy Beasley in exchange for Major League right-hander Matt Andriese on Tuesday. Los Angeles designated Minor League right-hander Luis Madero for assignment to make room for Andriese on its 40-man roster.Beasley posted a 4.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 102 strikeouts over 108 2/3 innings
Cardinals deal for Rays lefty Liberatore
It may be the middle of winter, but the hot stove has reignited.In the first major trade of the calendar year, the Cardinals acquired 2018 first-rounder Matthew Liberatore from the Rays. Catching prospect Edgardo Rodriguez and a Competitive Balance Round B selection (66th overall) also will head to St. Louis,
Simmons sped through Minors before Hall
SAN DIEGO -- Ted Simmons learned a lesson pretty quickly at the start of his professional baseball career. It's a lesson prospects such as Wander Franco, Luis Robert and another switch-handed catcher in Adley Rutschman pick up to this day.In the Minor Leagues, have bat, will travel. Simmons' next stop: