Pirates Minor League Report: Bubba Chandler Flirts With No-Hitter

Pirates prospects put on a mixed performance during the week of May 19, with strong outings from a series of pitchers — including a no-hit bid from Bubba Chandler, the team’s No. 1 prospect — evened out due to lackluster performances from all but a couple bats.

Chandler mowed through the Toledo Mud Hens for six hitless innings, exiting with one out in the seventh after allowing a single and a walk. Both inherited runners came around to score, adding a blemish to an otherwise stellar outing.

The week saw a series of pitching trends reverse. Thomas Harrington rebounded for 5.1 innings of two-run ball for Triple-A Indianapolis, one of his best starts of an otherwise shaky season; relatively speaking, Garrett McMillan endured his worst start of the season, allowing three runs across five innings for Altoona, and Khristian Curtis allowed one run in five innings after struggling to make the adjustment to High-A.

Braxton Ashcraft went six innings on Wednesday, May 21, allowing three runs in a quality start and earning his big league debut four days later, while Po-Yu Chen kicked off the week for Altoona with one earned run and five strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

Bradenton arms Clevari Tejada and Victor Cabreja each pitched five scoreless innings in their respective starts: Cabreja allowed just one hit.

At the plate, Keiner Delgado notched a three homer game on May 21, clearing the fences later in the week as well; Lonnie White Jr. joined him with four hits and a homer on the day, helping Greensboro claim an 11-8 win.

Esmerlyn Valdez hit three home runs on the week as the power surge continued in High-A, and Pirates 2024 first round pick Konnor Griffin hit a two-run bomb for Bradenton.