Baseball America: Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler enters 2025 as Pirates' top prospect
Bubba Chandler will enter the 2025 season as the No. 1 prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Baseball America's new top-10 team rankings, though it might not be long before the 22-year-old right-hander joins the major league starting rotation.
Chandler, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher with an elite fastball, went 10-7 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 148 strikeouts against 41 walks in 119 2/3 innings over 26 games (23 starts) between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last season. He moved up one spot in the rankings from last year, when NL rookie of the year and Cy Young finalist Paul Skenes graduated from prospect status.
"Behind a premium arsenal featuring three pitches bordering on plus or better, Chandler has already staked his claim as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Now, his sights are set on a spot in Pittsburgh's rotation," Baseball America wrote. "Chandler has legitimate No. 2 upside and should reach the majors in 2025 — perhaps even out of spring training — where he'll hope to settle in alongside Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to form one of the most potent young trios in the sport."
Ranked the No. 21 overall prospect by Baseball America, Chandler is one of three Pirates in their top-100 prospect list and one of six pitchers in their top 10, which was unveiled Thursday.
Konnor Griffin, an 18-year-old shortstop, is the top position-player prospect, ranked No. 2 in the Pirates' system and No. 74 in the top 100. The 2024 first-round pick (No. 9 overall) is one of three from his draft class in the top 10.
Baseball America called him a "tool shed," noting the 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed hitter's "freakish combination of size, strength and explosiveness" and pegged him as a potential future All-Star.
Triple-A right-handers Thomas Harrington (No. 88) and Braxton Ashcraft are ranked Nos. 3 and 4. Second baseman Termarr Johnson, their 2022 first-round pick, rounds out the top five.
Second baseman/outfielder Nick Yorke, a former first-round pick acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline this past July, is ranked No. 6. He's followed by a pair of 2024 draft picks — shortstop Wyatt Sanford (second round) and right-hander Levi Sterling (competitive balance-A round). Two new entries into the top 10 are right-hander Zander Mueth and lefty Hunter Barco.
