Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bubba Chandler Faces a Key Season
PITTSBURGH — Bubba Chandler, a right-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is entering a pivotal season for his growth, with high expectations surrounding him.
High Hopes for Rookie of the Year
According to AJ Mass from ESPN, there’s strong confidence in Chandler, predicting he may secure the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Impressive Late Season Performance
Mass had previously anticipated Chandler could win the award last year, but his late promotion prevented that from happening. Despite some anticipated challenges, Chandler demonstrated potential to be recognized as one of baseball’s promising young pitchers.
Reasons Behind the Optimism
Chandler spent the latter part of last season with the Pirates, highlighting why many consider him the top right-handed pitching prospect. He showcases a formidable four-seam fastball, averaging 98.9 mph, occasionally exceeding 100 mph.
Offspeed Pitches and Areas for Improvement
Additionally, he features effective offspeed pitches, like a changeup and slider, which limited opposing batters to .080 and .087 averages, respectively. However, Chandler needs to improve his command, especially against stronger teams, while showing resilience against lesser opponents.
Potential for Recognition in 2025
If Chandler can address his command issues and continue his progression throughout 2025, he stands a good chance of following in the footsteps of his teammate Paul Skenes to achieve the prestigious award.
Recapping Chandler’s 2025 Season
After being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on August 22, Chandler made an immediate impact, throwing four scoreless innings in his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies during a 9-0 win. He went on to secure his first MLB victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, showcasing significant potential despite a challenging outing against the Milwaukee Brewers.
