Bucs on Deck: Pirates Top 25 Prospects for 2025

The top 25 prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization

Photo Credit: WTM

These are our Top 25 prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, as ranked by WTM, NolaJeffy, and I.

In this write-up, you can find each player’s position, age (as of Opening Day), how they were acquired, a recap of their 2024 season, scouting report, and outlook for 2025.

1. Bubba Chandler, RHP Age: 22

How acquired: 2021 MLB Draft, 3rd Round (72nd overall)

2024 Season: 10-7, 3.08 ERA, 119.2 IP, 41 BB, 148 K

Best Tool: Fastball

2024 Recap: It wasn’t an ideal start to the season for Chandler, who began the year in Altoona. Control issues forced him out of a couple of games without finishing the first inning, and after the second time, he spent a week on the injured list.

Whatever he did during that week worked, as everything seemlingly came together for Chandler. Over his next 11 starts in Double-A, Chandler struck out 64 batters in 55.2 innings pitched, but more importantly, had a walk rate of 3.8%. That led to a promotion to Triple-A, where he had more of the same success.

Scouting Report: Chandler has one of the most explosive fastballs in the minors, perhaps all of baseball. He can dial it up to the upper-90s and hold his velocity deep into games. It also has elite shape characteristics, getting upwards of 20” of iVB and a flat approach angle, coming from a slightly lower-than-average release height.

His change-up is another plus pitch, with elite arm action that fades away from left-handed hitters. The next step with it (that could force it into double-plus territory) is to throw it for strikes more consistently.

The slider took strides in 2024, looking tighter and more sharp. It has the potential to be a ‘55’ pitch. He started throwing the curve as a ‘show me’ pitch more in Triple-A, rounding out a legitimate starter’s arsenal.

2025 Outlook: With three pitches that should be at least above-average (and two potential double-plus), Chandler has emerged as one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. It’s a matter of when and not if he makes his major league debut this year, and he could factor in the Rookie of the Year race if he gets there soon enough.