Bucs on Deck: Pittsburgh Pirates Top 30 Midseason Update

Top 30 prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization

Photo Credit: WTM

We are past the halfway mark of the 2025 minor league season, and it seems like a perfect time for an update on our Top Prospect list, which has been expanded to 30 players.

Most of the scouting reports are the same, except obviously for the new players joining the list. We also added a ‘2025 update’ section for each prospect with any new information on the given player.

1. Bubba Chandler, RHP Age: 22

Best Pitch: Fastball

Scouting Report: Bubba 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 sharper. 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 Update: Chandler’s stuff has been as electric as ever, perhaps even better with a slight velocity bump. The control issues have been resurfacing, but he has demonstrated the ability to make the necessary adjustments to correct them. There isn’t much more he can do in the minors, outside of said control adjustments, it’s a matter of finding the fit in the rotation that will likely come with a trade.