Chandler's Triple-A debut a smashing success
This season, Indianapolis has been no stranger to fast-rising pitching prospects. Mere months after Paul Skenes' ascension from Indy ace to National League All-Star Game starter to potential Rookie of the Year, another Pirates top prospect was dominant in his Triple-A debut in the form of Bubba Chandler. The righty
This season, Indianapolis has been no stranger to fast-rising pitching prospects. Mere months after Paul Skenes' ascension from Indy ace to National League All-Star Game starter to potential Rookie of the Year, another Pirates top prospect was dominant in his Triple-A debut in the form of Bubba Chandler. The righty threw seven scoreless innings en route to a 6-0 win over the Nashville Sounds (Brewers) at First Horizon Park, collecting six strikeouts in the process.
While Chandler looked right at home in his first Triple-A start, holding the Sounds hitless through five innings, he acknowledged that his promotion from Double-A Altoona came with its fare share of adjustments. At 21 years old, Chandler is the youngest player on the Indianapolis roster.
“In the clubhouse, guys are a little older and a little more experienced,” Chandler said. “It’s been great being around them, picking some guys’ brains.”
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
Among the experienced members of the Indianapolis lineup is No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis, who made his Major League debut last season. Davis and Chandler were both selected by the Pirates in the 2021 Draft in the first and third round, respectively. The two have often been grouped together in Pittsburgh prospect rankings but had never shared the field before Friday.
“That guy is a big league catcher for a reason.,” Chandler said. “I’ve known Henry for three years now, but I think that’s the first time he has caught me in a game. I had a lot of fun with him.”
It’s no surprise that Chandler once again finds himself in the same conversation as other top talent, but his 2024 season hasn’t been entirely linear. He started the season with Double-A Altoona but missed time in May with forearm soreness. He struggled in his first start back, at which point he had a 1-4 record and 5.65 ERA. Things started turn around in late June as Chandler had consecutive double-digit strikeout starts. By mid-July, his batting average against was below .200, and he had earned himself a place on the National League All-Star Futures Game roster.
“We had a good plan going into [today's start]," Chandler said. "I throw a lot of fastballs, and the plan was to pitch backwards all day today and see how it works. I think it was a good plan coming in and I was able to execute some stuff early.”
The results are undeniable -- of Chandler’s 85 pitches, only two were hit hard (95+ mph or higher) into fair territory. The Nashville lineup, which features four players who have seen Major League time, whiffed on 36.8 percent of its swings. Of course it bodes well for Chandler’s future in Triple-A, but it also gives him a sense of how he stacks up against talent at the next level.
“A bunch of those guys in the lineup tonight, they’ve been in the big leagues. It’s good matchups to test where I’m at mentally and physically with my pitches and whatnot,” Chandler said. “Tyler [Black, MLB's No. 33 prospect] had three really good at-bats against me tonight, and that’s kind of how it is if you want to get to the big leagues. That’s how it’s going to be every batter.”
Allison Mast is a contributor for MiLB.com.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring