Bubba Chandler was the Pirates Prospects Minor League Player of the year in 2024.
The top prospect started his season in the Altoona rotation, aiming to improve the quality of his changeup. He finished the season in the Indianapolis rotation, with a changeup that was looking like a plus offering. Between the two levels, Chandler had a 3.08 ERA in 119.2 innings, with a 148:41 K/BB.
His 148 strikeouts led the minor league system, finishing 18 higher than the next best player and 33 more than the next best total from the upper levels. What was more impressive were the 41 walks. Chandler started his career with a 16% walk rate in Bradenton in 2022, dropping to a 10.9% rate last year in High-A. This year he had an 8.1% rate in Double-A, and a 9.4% rate in Triple-A. He lowered his walks, while posting the best strikeout rates of his career, in the jump to the upper levels.
The improved control is a big reason why Chandler is one of the top prospects in the system, and one of the best pitching prospects in the game. He’s also improved his stuff over the last two years. Chandler improved his slider to a swing and miss offering last year. He set out to improve his changeup this year, and got the pitch to the point where it could generate swing and miss while being thrown for strikes. He also added a curveball, and now has four pitches that potentially grade above-average or better.
From a results standpoint, and from a development standpoint, Chandler did all you could ask for from a young player. Entering his age 22 season next year, he should get a chance to pitch in the Majors at some point. After a 1.83 ERA in 39.1 innings across seven starts in Triple-A, it doesn’t seem like the Pirates will be waiting long for Chandler.
Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Pitchers of the Year
While Chandler was the overall pitcher and player of the year, he wasn’t the pitcher of the year at any given level. Here were the best pitchers at each level of the Pirates’ system in 2024:
Triple-A: Indianapolis – Isaac Mattson, RHP (3.15 ERA, 76:33 K/BB, 60 IP)
A reliever, Mattson joined Indianapolis early in the season and was one of their best pitchers in a versatile role when they needed depth. He eventually was called up to the Majors for the final two weeks, and pitched well in a few limited outings, with two multi-inning scoreless outings.
Double-A: Altoona – Thomas Harrington, RHP (2.24 ERA, 74:10 K/BB, 68.1 IP)
Harrington began the season on the injured list, before quickly becoming the best pitcher in a loaded Altoona rotation. The right-hander out-pitched Bubba Chandler at this level, already possessing the advanced control that Chandler was working toward. Harrington moved up to Triple-A at the end of the year and had a 3.33 ERA in 46 innings over eight starts. He finished as a close second to Chandler for the Player of the Year award.
High-A: Greensboro – Alessandro Ercolani, RHP (3.29 ERA, 93:25 K/BB, 73.2 IP)
The Pirates started the 20-year-old from San Marino in the Greensboro rotation, before reducing his innings in long-relief in the second half. Ercolani excelled in each role, due to an advanced six-pitch mix with some of the best swing and miss stuff in the minors. He got to 73.2 innings this year, and could be in line for a promotion to Altoona next year, plus his first 100+ inning season of his young career.
Single-A: Bradenton – Carlson Reed, RHP (2.43 ERA, 96:42 K/BB, 77.2 IP)
Sending a college player to Single-A for most of his first pro season isn’t fair from a talent standpoint. Reed was spending his time learning how to pitch as a starter, after working as a reliever in college. He pitched well in the role, emerging as one of the biggest breakout prospects of the year, with one of the highest strikeout totals. Reed finished the year in High-A, where he had an 0.87 ERA in 31 innings across six starts.
RK: FCL Pirates – Zander Mueth, RHP (1.58 ERA, 56:26 K/BB, 51.1 IP)
Drafted 67th overall in 2023, Mueth spent the season in the FCL rotation, and was lights out. His 1.58 ERA and 51.1 innings were both fueled by a six start stretch where he threw five innings each time, allowing two earned runs in that 30 inning span. Mueth was promoted to Bradenton after the FCL season finished, and added seven starts with a 3.97 ERA in 22.2 innings. He had some control issues, and should work on those in the next year in A-ball.
RK: DSL Pirates – Cesar Aquino, RHP (0.98 ERA, 37:7 K/BB, 46 IP)
A late addition to this year’s international class, Aquino signed with the Pirates on March 24th, then went on to pitch the most innings in the DSL. The 19-year-old had an ERA below 1.00, while showing good strikeout and walk numbers. Aquino isn’t the best long-term prospect at the DSL level, but did enough this year to earn a look in the FCL in 2025.
Check back throughout the week for the Minor League Hitter of the Year and the Breakout Prospect of the Year.
