It was quite the night for Bubba Chandler, basically showing why he was worth giving out a $3 million signing bonus back in the 2021 draft.
Not only did he flash his potential on the mound, but he showed off the athleticism that makes you understand why if anyone is going to make the ‘two-way’ thing work, it’s going to be him.
My goodness what a play from Bubba Chandler. Can only imagine the athleticism needed to do that coming off the mound #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/ajVYmuswny
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) August 23, 2022
A couple a thoughts on that play. Sure, it was probably unnecessary. Norkis Marcos probably makes that play regardless and they get out of the inning with Chandler still not giving up a hit. Bubba was obviously feeling it though, and really wanted to get out of the inning. So he took matters into his own hand.
Secondly, my goodness what athleticism he showed there. Yea, sure, he was falling off the mound that side but he still had to take two steps and then was still able to generate enough momentum to dive the way he did and make that play. Amazing.
Up to that point though, Chandler pitched the deepest into a game then he had his entire career, completely five innings. He has had a problem with his stuff fading a bit as the game gone along in previous outings, but was he was still pumping out 98 mph in his final frame.
We also saw the changeup utilized more as a weapon than a ‘show me’ pitch to offset the fastball. Still some work to be done, but progress.
Other Notes
— Quinn Priester had himself quite the eventful outing for Altoona on Tuesday. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed seven hits, five runs, struck out three and hit another three batters. The defense obviously didn’t do him any favors with a couple of errors in key spots, but he was far from top form. It happens. He was still able to work out of some situations.
— It’s rarely the case that a game where a pitcher walks more than they strikeout is a difference maker but I’ll be interested to see how Jared Jones responds in his next start, which is projected to be on Sunday. He clearly didn’t have his best stuff, striking out just two in four innings.
I’ve also seen him go toe-to-toe with a bonafide major league pitcher and still fizzle out in the end.
Jones has electric stuff, but just hasn’t been able to put it all together this year. He’s been tagged for 18 home runs in 23 outings this season, but also leads the system in strikeouts. For now, getting four shutout innings from him is a bonus that maybe he can build off of going down the stretch.
–J.C. Flowers fantastic month of August continues after pitching a single shutout inning against Bowie on Tuesday. He’s now allowed just one run in 9 1/3 innings this month, walking just one and striking out 12. I had Flowers ranked as the best pure reliever in the system going into the season and after a rough start to the year, he’s really turned it on as the season as gone on. He now has a 2.67 ERA in 67 1/3 innings in 2022, filling almost every role you can think of out the bullpen for Altoona.
He’ll be an interesting name to watch this winter as he’s eligible for the Rule 5.
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Endy Rodriguez is Looking Like the Best Prospect in the Pirates System
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