Morning Rundown: Bubba Chandler Fantastic In Double-A Debut
Pitches five, one-hit innings, striking out eight
In what was originally supposed to a matchup between the top two picks in the 2023 draft, the Pirates decided to shut down Paul Skenes for the remainder of the season.
They instead promoted Bubba Chandler to make his Double-A debut, at 20-years-old, against one of the most stacked lineups at the level.
Chandler was fantastic, allowing just one hit, while striking out eight, in five innings of what was his last start of the season.
He struck out James Wood twice, as well as Robert Hassell once. Dylan Crews went 0-2 against him as well, with Israel Pineda the only Senator hitter to reach safely against Chandler.
The rapid accession we’ve seen from Bubba has been throughly impressive, as the Pirates put a lot on him this season, and after initially struggling, he’s come through and shown exactly why he was so highly regarded.
With the season likely over for him, he goes into the offseason with career highs across the board and got a taste of the Double-A level that he will probably start at going into 2024.
Jared Jones Seven Shutout
Not to be outshined, Jared Jones gave a good reminder at just how deep the Pirates are when it comes to their pitching prospects.
The 22-year-old pitched seven shutout innings Friday night for the Indianapolis Indians. He only struck out four, but also walked one and allowed just four hits against the Toledo Mud Hens.
It’s been a mostly rough start to his time in Triple-A, but again, the Pirates challenged someone they feel high on, and they aren’t backing down from it.
Minor League Recap 9/8
Indianapolis Indians - 2 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 0
Top Hitter - Nick Gonzales: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, HR (11)
Top Pitcher - Jared Jones: 7 IP, 4, BB, 4 K
Altoona Curve - 6 vs Harrisburg Senators - 0
Top Hitter - Connor Scott: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR (3)
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 5 IP, H, 8 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 11 vs Bowling Green Hot Rods - 2
Top Hitter - Jack Brannigan: 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (12)
Top Pitcher - Jaycob Deese: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 K
Bradenton Marauders - 7 vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - 5
Top Hitter - Kalae Harrison: 2-4, RBI
Top Pitcher - Magdiel Cotto: 1.1 IP, BB, 2 K
Very impressive starts from 22 year old Jared Jones at AAA, and 20 year old Bubba Chandler at AA. Both were very efficient and hitting their spots. Not unusual to see from Jones, but Chandler sometimes struggles with his Command - very efficient last night and that Rotation in Altoona is going to be very, very strong in 2024.
Jones has a total of 115 IP in 2023 (71 IP in AAA) which is short of the 122 IP thrown last year at A+. He will probably get at least one more start at AAA, and no reason to think he would not be a possibility for the Pirate Rotation starting 2024. Chandler finishes his season with 111 IP and both have more K's than innings pitched.
Just a note on Dylan Crews the second pick behind Paul Skenes in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft. Struggling a bit at AA with a .173 BA, 485 OPS, but too good of a hitter to think he will not turn that around.
Welp... that was a blast.
Wabbit went down to Toon-Town last night.
Some of yinz might know I went down to Greensboro for Bubba's last start, which was also impressive.
We had a rain delay on a pretty ugly night to start things off. The sun was going down behind threatening storm clouds and it looked apocalyptic. I was in the Rail Kings section and the sky looked a sick yellow, so it was almost hard to watch the game as the yellow glare of the background competed with the stadium lights for dominance.
Once they started the game, they played the whole thing in between the raindrops as lightning bolts whizzed around in the sky seemingly just over the left field parking garage.
Of all the forces in play, Bubba was the most undeniable. He was throwing straight downhill 96 all night and none of the senators could touch him. Had a perfect game going into the 5th with 8 strikeouts until the Senators' big catcher got a single. He sure looks like he wants to prove a point.
Dylan Crews did nothing against him, but did provide for some fun in the 7th (?) when he charged straight in and dove for first baseman Gonzales's screaming (dying) liner to center and wound up on his face as the ball fell, untouched, and rolled most of the way to the wall. By the time the other outfielders caught up with it and got the ball in, they threw it over the head of whoever was covering third for a little league homer.
Minor league baseball is a lot of fun.
But, overall, Chandler made mincemeat outta this lineup of Nationals' prospects.
This makes me think, with Priester, Jones, Solomento and others returning from injury things could get very interesting very quickly next season.
I am not sure, but I wanna say Bubba is not old enough to have a beer yet and he is wiping out the Dylan Crewses of the world. Strong night of work. Based on his second half, and what I saw in his last start for the Hoppers, things are heading in the right direction.
"Do you wanna shoot me now or wait 'till ya get home?
Shoot 'im now!! Shoot 'im now!!
You keep outta dis. He doesn't have to shoot you now.
Well, I say he DOES have to shoot me now. SO SHOOT ME NOW!!!!"
-Wabbit