Bubba Chandler’s call to PNC Park is on the Horizon

Fantasy Freshman

In 2020, Bubba Chandler excelled as a two-sport athlete, showcasing his talents as both a quarterback and a flamethrower who could also do damage at the plate. After initially committing to play both football and baseball at Clemson, he ultimately chose to focus on baseball, a decision that has paid dividends, as he now ranks as the No. 15 prospect in Major League Baseball per MLB.com. Baseball fans are fortunate he picked up a glove instead of a football full-time, as his powerful arm and diverse toolkit on the hill have made him one of the most promising talents from the 2021 draft class.

The 22-year-old’s name was called by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 3rd round (72nd overall) after an impressive 2024 campaign between Double-A and Triple-A, delivering 119.2 innings of work with a 3.08 ERA paired with under-the-hood metrics that reinforced his legitimacy. Chandler demonstrated elite swing-and-miss potential with 148 strikeouts, equating to more than 30% of opponents, while limiting his walks to a reasonable 8.6% clip. He also did a remarkable job of refining his command over his minor league career, proven by a 65% strike rate, which highlights a maturing pitcher who possesses the tools to thrive in the big leagues.

At 6’3” 218 pounds, the Georgia native’s fastball is nothing short of overpowering. His four-pitch mix starts with the fastball, which sits at 96-97 mph, although he can dial it up to 100 mph. He has also been able to improve the command of his secondary pitches, which include a hard, cutterish slider that sits at 87 mph, a curveball that sits in the low 80s, and a devastating changeup sitting at 88 mph, which generated an outstanding 41.4% whiff rate. The low release height of 5’7” creates deception that results in a tough adjustment for hitters, only enhancing his already powerful presence on the mound. With no significant injury history, Bubba is poised to join Paul Skenes and Jared Jones as part of the Pirates’ next wave of elite arms.

Scout the Statline’s (StS) Peak Projections highlight Bubba’s ability to maintain his ability to strike out batters at an impressive rate, demonstrated by a 22.8% strikeout rate, coupled with 127 strikeouts over 143 innings pitched. Their model also predicts that he will sport a 13.6% Swinging Strike Percentage (SwStr%), which is well above average. With a high SwStr%, expect a high strikeout rate, fewer balls in play, and a lower batting average against.

Why Bubba Chandler Should Be On Your DFS Radar

Multi-Sport Athleticism: Chandler’s multi-sport roots boost his DFS appeal, as his athleticism fuels a deep arsenal with consistent mechanics. This ability translates to a high strikeout rate potential (34% K-rate in 2024) for DFS players.

Elite Arsenal: His 96-100 mph fastball, which places him in the 95th percentile, possesses riding movement. Coupled with a plus slider and secondary pitches, a lot of strikeouts per start will result, making him highly valuable in DFS, when the call comes.

Ground-Ball Tendency: Chandler’s pitch mix suggests he can induce a high rate of ground balls while keeping opposing home runs in check down the road (0.5 HR/9 in 2024). This offers DFS players a safe floor.

The Path to PNC Park

Bubba is currently pitching with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, although his MLB debut is one of the most highly anticipated in the class. The current back end of the rotation includes the young Carmen Mlodzinski, so an opening could definitely arise for Bubba, sooner rather than later. If he continues to dominate in Triple-A, they will not be able to keep him down there any longer. Chandler's recent two performances further prove his readiness, as he allowed only one hit over two and a third shutout innings, striking out four in his first outing. He came out even hotter in his second appearance, slinging four innings, and allowing just one hit while fanning eight batters as the radar gun read 100 mph on a couple of fastballs. Bubba’s evident call to the big league club is only a matter of when…not if.

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