Pirates Minor League Updates: Chandler Returns, Ashcraft Keeps Rolling

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

Bubba Chandler was activated off of the injured list and made one start for Double-A Altoona on the week.

Chandler’s teammate, Braxton Ashcraft, continued to pitch well while Paul Skenes earned another win at the major-league level.

Full updates on the top 10:

1. RHP Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Weekly stats: 1-0, 3.00 ERA, six innings, two runs, three hits, one walk, nine strikeout, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (MLB): 2-0, 2.45 ERA, 22.0 innings, six runs, 15 hits, five walks, 30 strikeouts, four appearances/four starts

Skenes picked up his second-career win by throwing six solid innings against the Tigers in Detroit in his lone start of the week. The Pirates have gotten everything they could have hoped for from their top prospect.

2. INF Termarr Johnson (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .278/.381/.611, 5 for 18, three doubles, one home run, four RBIs, one steal, five games
• 2024 stats: .203/.383/.342, 32 for 158, eight doubles, one triple, four home runs, 20 RBIs, seven steals, 48 games

It was a solid week for Johnson who displayed his power with four extra-base hits including his fourth home run of the season.

3. RHP Bubba Chandler (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-1, 4.50 ERA, four innings, two runs, three hits, one walk, three strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats: 1-4, 5.65 ERA, 28.2 innings, 18 runs, 21 hits, 19 walks, 33 strikeouts, nine appearances/eight starts

Chandler returned to the mound after a brief stint on the injured list with an elbow injury and made one start for Altoona.

4. LHP Anthony Solometo (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 6.00 ERA, three innings, two runs, four hits, three walks, no strikeouts, two appearances
• 2024 stats: 0-3, 6.23 ERA, 26 innings, 18 runs, 27 hits, 18 walks, 17 strikeouts, 10 appearances/seven starts

Solometo’s last three appearances have come out of the bullpen including both outings last week. 2024 continues to be a struggle for the left-hander.

5. RHP Thomas Harrington (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 5.40 ERA, five innings, three runs, five hits, no walks, five strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats: 0-0, 2.29 ERA, 19.2 innings, six runs (five earned), 13 hits, two walks, 20 strikeouts, five starts

Harrington didn’t have his best results but he’s been pitching well for most of the season since coming back off the injured list.

6. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 1.50 ERA, six innings, one run, three hits, one walk, seven strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats: 1-2, 3.47 ERA, 46.2 innings, 20 runs (18 earned), 45 hits, eight walks, 51 strikeouts, 10 appearances/nine starts

After scuffling out of the gate, Ashcraft has pitched extremely well over the last couple weeks and he continued his resurgence with six-strong innings in his latest start.

7. INF Mitch Jebb (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .250/.333/.438, 4 for 16, one home run, two RBIs, one steal, four games
• 2024 stats: .195/.258/.293, 32 for 164, two doubles, one triple, four home runs, 19 RBIs, nine steals, 41 games

Jebb had a pretty good showing in four games this past week but it’s been an underwhelming season for last year’s second-round draft pick.

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

• Weekly stats: .190/.320/.190, 4 for 21, one RBI, one steal, six games
• 2024 stats: .219/.344/.338, 33 for 151, three doubles, five home runs, 22 RBIs, nine steals, 44 games

Cheng played really well two weeks ago but didn’t fare as well this past week. He does carry a three-game hitting streak, however.

9. INF Jack Brannigan (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .190/.292/.429, 4 for 21, two doubles, one home run, five RBIs, one steal, five games
• 2024 stats: .214/.350/.393, 36 for 168, seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 20 RBIs, nine steals, 45 games

Strikeouts hindered Brannigan in a subpar week, but the Pirates’ infield prospect put up a decent showing in the power department. As is the case with the other top position player prospects in the system, Brannigan has hovered around the Mendoza line for much of the season.

10. RHP Mike Burrows (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• HAS YET TO PITCH IN 2024 (RECOVERING FROM TOMMY JOHN SURGERY)