Chandler Lights it Up, Prospects Break it Open; Pirates Improve to 2-0

Sunday afternoon marked Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler’s first time pitching this spring, but you wouldn’t have guessed it if you were looking at the radar gun.

Chandler worked the fifth inning at LECOM Park in Bradenton against the Minnesota Twins. Though he battled some wildness and allowed one run to score, the 22-year-old showed off the arm that makes him a potential star.

Chandler’s fastball sat in the upper 90s and hit as high as 99.1 mph. The pitch is a 60-grade on the 20-80 scouting scale according to MLB Pipeline.

In his lone inning of work, Chandler allowed one run on one hit with one walk and one strikeout. He threw 14 pitches, seven of which went for strikes.

Ultimately, the Pirates pulled out a 5-1 win over the Twins thanks largely to a handful of prospects breaking the game open in the bottom of the seventh.

With the game tied 1-1, 2024 first-rounder Konnor Griffin bounced a single into right field to put the Pirates ahead by a run. Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez followed with an RBI-single of his own to plate another run.

After the Pirates tacked on another run, 2023 fourth-overall pick Termarr Johnson singled to right field to plate Griffin and put the Pirates ahead 5-1.

Notable Pirates’ Performances

• Mitch Keller: 2.0 innings, three hits, no runs, no walks, one strikeout
• Caleb Ferguson: 2.0 innings, no hits, no runs, one walk, one strikeout
• Bryce Johnson: 2 for 2, one RBI
• Ji Hwan Bae: 1 for 2, one double, one run

The Pirates (2-0) will head to Clearwater on Monday afternoon to take on their Pennsylvania counterparts in the Philadelphia Phillies.