Bubba Chandler Tabbed Top Pitching Prospect, But Be Realistic With Expectations

The Pittsburgh Pirates have another potential top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher getting close to joining the team in Bubba Chandler.

Last year on May 11, Paul Skenes made his much-anticipated MLB debut at PNC Park. The hype surrounding the 2023 first-overall pick was something rarely, if ever seen before.

Skenes’ rookie season was impeccable. He finished the year 11-3 with a stellar 1.96 ERA and set a franchise rookie record with 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. The big right-hander started the All-Star Game, became the second Pirates’ player to win the National League Rookie of the Year and finished third in Cy Young voting.

His success has carried over into 2025. After another strong start against the Mets in New York on Monday night, Skenes is seventh in the National League with a 2.63 ERA.

At the time of his promotion, Skenes was the No. 3 prospect and the top pitching prospect in baseball.

One year (and two days) after Skenes stepped onto a big-league mound for the first time, the Pirates once again have the top pitching prospect in baseball.

MLB Pipeline recently updated its top 100 prospects list. In addition to being rated as the top pitcher in minor-league baseball, Chandler is ranked as the second-best prospect overall behind Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony.

It’s been a sensational start to the season for Chandler with Triple-A Indianapolis. In seven starts, the 2021 third-round pick is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA. In 28 innings, he’s only allowed 15 hits with 11 walks and 41 strikeouts. Opponents have hit a lowly .160 against him.

Chandler has an impressive arsenal led by a fastball that can hit triple digits. He also features a plus-slider as well as a curveball and changeup.

When the Pirates drafted him out of high school, Chandler was committed to Clemson as a two-sport athlete, where in addition to baseball, he would have been a quarterback on the football team. He was also drafted as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching after the 2022 season. Ya, he’s athletic.

Chandler has all the makings of being a very good starting pitcher. He could easily give the Pirates another frontline starting pitcher, but don’t expect another flawless rookie season as Skenes had in 2024.

Skenes is truly a generational talent. What he did during his rookie campaign was historic. For Chandler’s sake, it’s not quite fair to compare the two, and it’s REALLY not fair to expect the same results.

The only thing that is comparable is how the Pirates are bringing Chandler along. He’s continued to build up his workload as the season has gone on. His first start of the year lasted 2.2 innings with a steady increase since — outside of a blip in his last outing in which he struggled.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said as much during a media availability earlier this season.

“They’re different pitchers. I wanna be careful not to compare the two. There’s some similarities with how we approach (development).”

With each passing day, Chandler is getting closer to getting called up to the big leagues. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him in Pittsburgh this month. If not in May, it won’t be too long after until he embarks on his big-league career.

But keep in mind that Paul Skenes is Paul Skenes. Bubba Chandler is Bubba Chandler.

That’s not a bad thing.