FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bubba Chandler wanted to make quick work of the Minnesota Twins, so the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander wasn’t happy when his called third strike on the inside corner against Willi Castro was overturned by a challenge in spring training’s experimental automated ball-strike system.
“I never had a pitch get called for a strike, challenge, and then miss by less than half an inch,” Chandler said of ABS. “When something like that happens, it’s like, man! It makes you kind of mad.”
Despite having a runner at first, Chandler didn’t back down. His next pitch was a sinker in the dirt, but he followed with a 96.7 mph four-seamer and Castro grounded into a double play to end the frame. That completed a scoreless third inning for Chandler, who made an impressive cameo in the Pirates’ 12-1 win over the Twins on Thursday afternoon before 4,933 at Hammond Stadium.
It was a response he couldn’t have imagined three years ago, when Chandler was a self-described “immature” kid playing here for Low-A Bradenton. Chandler said he had a conversation with fellow pitching prospect Anthony Solometo about how he would have reacted then to the call.
“Where we are now is, with our game, with our life, it’s completely different,” said Chandler, a 2021 third-round pick who signed for a $3 million bonus. “Three years ago, challenge system, that happens, Bubba Chandler’s walking that guy, 100%, no doubt in my mind. Even if it was 0-2, I’m going to walk that guy. For me, getting back in there, throwing strikes, getting that double play, for myself, it’s a little fist bump, like, ‘Hey, you’ve grown’ — which is nice.”
Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler talks about his mindset about competing for spot in starting rotation at spring training, losing ABS challenge vs Twins. pic.twitter.com/QRjO3YTxvn
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 27, 2025
The 22-year-old Chandler is not only the Pirates’ top prospect but one of the best in baseball, ranked No. 7 by Baseball America and No. 15 by MLB Pipeline. He came to spring training hoping to win a spot in the starting rotation in the same fashion Jared Jones did last year: by blowing away hitters with his high-90s fastball.
The Pirates signing veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney might have spoiled those plans for Chandler, but he came to big-league camp ready to show his stuff. He averaged 97.2 mph on eight four-seamers, touching 98.1 and recording three of the top five fastest pitches, per Statcast.
“I approached the offseason a little differently with my throwing program,” said Chandler, who started long-tossing two weeks earlier than normal. “Getting hot early, trying to come in here and compete. I’m at my best when I’m throwing hard, so didn’t really do much differently. Just kind of sped it up a little bit more. That’s about it.”
That was evident from his first pitch, a 96.9 mph four-seamer that Trevor Larnach lined out to left. After getting a called strike on an elevated 97 mph fastball to Royce Lewis — the 2017 No. 1 overall pick — Chandler attempted to go strike-to-ball and threw the next four pitches outside the zone for a five-pitch walk.
“Royce spit on I know at least two pitches, and I was like, ‘Man, if I was hitting, I would’ve swung at those things,’ ” Chandler said. “But they’re big-league hitters for a reason. I’m glad I can compete against them.”
Chandler showed he wasn’t afraid to challenge an All-Star like Castro, who had a team-best 31 doubles last season. Castro looked at a called strike on a 96.6 mph fastball on his first pitch but fouled off a slider, then got the next pitch overturned by the ABS. Two pitches later, Chandler got the grounder to shortstop Alika Williams, who stepped on second base and turned two to end a 1-2-3 inning that saw Chandler throw only five of his 11 pitches for strikes.
“The thing with him is to just own the strike zone,” Pirates catcher Joey Bart said of Chandler. “He’s got the stuff to blow people away. The more he can be in the zone, the better. He’s ready to go. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s a competitor. All he can do is what he can control: That’s throwing strikes and punching people out.”
Chandler fared better than his first outing Feb. 23, also against the Twins. He allowed one run on a walk and a single while recording one strikeout. He’s relied on his four-seamer but spent the offseason sharpening his slider and getting a good grip and better feel for his curveball, with the intention of keeping hitters off his heater.
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Where Chandler is trying to learn as much from his major-league teammates about their routines between starts this spring, he also knows he’s knocking on the door for making his debut. If he’s not on the Opening Day roster, Chandler expects it to happen sometime this season.
“I’ve thought about that since I was a baby,” Chandler said. “It’s starting to get a touch more realistic now. I try not to think about it. Once you start think about it, you lose sight. Wherever my feet are, I’m trying to be.”
But Chandler isn’t shy about saying he wants them to be at PNC Park, and he’s hoping to plant that seed with Pirates manager Derek Shelton and pitching coach Oscar Marin that he’ll be ready when his time comes.
“Hopefully, I get some more opportunities to throw a little longer than an inning,” Chandler said, “and show O, Shelty and some of the guys that, ‘Hey, whether I’m ready or not, I’m going to compete as hard as I can and hopefully put myself in a position to get to Pittsburgh.’”
Notes: Left-hander Caleb Feguson started the game and allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts in two innings to earn the win. Left fielder Jack Suwinski batted leadoff went 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and two stolen bases to boost his batting average to .571 this spring. Right fielder Nick Solak went 3 for 3 with two doubles and three runs scored to increase his average to .556. … The Miami Marlins claimed right-handed reliever Brett de Geus off waivers from the Pirates, who purchased de Geus from Toronto on Jan. 15 but designated him for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster when they signed Heaney.