Pirates Minor League Updates: Bubba Chandler Named Pitcher of the Week

This is one in a weekly update on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects.

Bubba Chandler, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect, earned a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis and made his debut. The 21-year-old dazzled in his first Triple-A start and earned International League Pitcher of the Week honors.

Additionally, several of the Pirates’ top position player prospects impressed. Among them was Nick Yorke, one of the newest farmhands in the system.

Full updates on the top 10:

1. RHP Bubba Chandler (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, seven innings, no runs, two hits, one walk, six strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AA, AAA) : 7-7, 3.40 ERA, 87.1 innings, 36 runs (33 earned), 57 hits, 27 walks, 100 strikeouts, 20 appearances/17 starts

Talk about a good start with Indianapolis for Chandler. Things couldn’t have gone much better after he was bumped up a level from Double-A.

2. INF Termarr Johnson (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .087/.125/.087, 2 for 23, six games
• 2024 stats: .234/.372/.376, 84 for 336, 16 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 42 RBIs, 15 steals, 100 games

Johnson has been stuck in a rut at the plate and his slump continued with a rough week. He’s in the top 10 in all of the minor leagues with 72 walks.

3. LHP Anthony Solometo (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 10.78 ERA, 1.2 innings, two runs, two hits, two walks, two strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AA): 0-4, 6.49 ERA, 34.2 innings, 25 runs, 34 hits, 23 walks, 26 strikeouts, 14 appearances/11 starts

Solometo returned to Altoona after working his way back from the development list. It wasn’t an ideal return, but encouraging to see him back in Double-A nonetheless.

4. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: DID NOT PITCH — PLACED ON 7-DAY INJURED LIST ON JULY 12
• 2024 stats (AA, AAA): 3-2, 2.88 ERA, 72 innings, 25 runs (23 earned), 65 hits, 12 walks, 76 strikeouts, 15 appearances/13 starts

Ashcraft is still on the injured list with recurring symptoms of lateral forearm tightness.

5. INF/OF Nick Yorke (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: .400/.455/.450, 7 for 20, one double, two RBIs, six games
• 2024 stats (Indianapolis): .368/.419/.474, 14 for 38, four doubles, six RBIs, 11 games

York had another strong week with Indianapolis and extended his hitting streak to 15 games. He’s off to a great start since the Pirates acquired from the Boston Red Sox.

6. RHP Thomas Harrington (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: 0-1, 3.86 ERA, 4.2 innings, two runs, four hits, two walks, five strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AAA): 0-1, 6.10 ERA, 10.1 innings, seven runs, 10 hits, three walks, nine strikeouts, two appearances/two starts

Like Chandler, Harrington was recently promoted to Triple-A. He made his second start with Indianapolis and saw better results than last week’s debut.

7. INF Mitch Jebb (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .421/.450/.474, 8 for 19, one double, two RBIs, three steals, five games
• 2024 stats: .249/.344/.347, 88 for 354, nine doubles, four triples, six home runs, 37 RBIs, 33 steals, 93 games

Jebb stayed hot at the plate highlighted by his four-hit performance on Tuesday. His 33 stolen bases in 38 attempts on the season are impressive.

8. INF Tsung-Che Cheng (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: .300/.417/.500, 6 for 20, one double, one home run, five RBIs, six games
• 2024 stats: .234/.339/.372, 78 for 333, 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 44 RBIs, 14 steals, 98 games

Cheng’s grand slam on Wednesday sparked a big week with the bat.

9. INF Jack Brannigan (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: DID NOT PLAY — PLACED ON 7-DAY INJURED LIST ON JULY 27
• 2024 stats: .223/.340/.445, 59 for 265, 12 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, 12 steals, 71 games

Brannigan remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury.

10. RHP Mike Burrows (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, five innings, no runs, two hits, no walks, two strikeouts, one appearance/one star
• 2024 stats (AAA): 0-1, 3.65 ERA, 12.1 innings, five runs, 13 hits, one walk, 14 strikeouts, three appearances/two starts

Burrows was used as a bulk reliever in his lone appearance with Indianapolis. It was a solid performance from the right-hander, who rejoined the Indians at the end of July after working back from Tommy John surgery.