Bubba Chandler threw seven shutout innings in his debut for Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Pirates’ top prospect allowed two hits, one walk, and struck out six. He needed 85 pitches, throwing 57 for strikes. This level of performance isn’t new for Chandler. In his final start for Altoona, he allowed one run on three hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Chandler has improved his control as the season has progressed. From May 29th through his final Double-A start, he walked just eight batters in 55.2 innings. He also posted a 2.75 ERA during that time, while striking out 64.
The best part of his move to Triple-A is getting data on his pitches. Chandler threw 36 fastballs on Friday night, sitting 97.2 MPH and touching 98.7. He had 11 whiffs on 23 swings (48%), along with four more called strikes. His slider was thrown 34 times, getting one whiff on eight swings, but landing for 14 called strikes. The pitch sat mid-80s.
Chandler has been working on his changeup this year, and threw that third offering 15 times. He got two whiffs on seven swings (29%), with another for a called strike. The changeup sits 89, touching 91.9.
Bubba Chandler makes a statement in his Triple-A debut 😤
The @Pirates' No. 1 prospect spins seven scoreless frames with six punchouts for the @indyindians and averages 97.2 mph with his heater. pic.twitter.com/6WrgQ8tIuz
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 10, 2024
The Pirates have the makings of an elite long-term rotation forming in the majors. Chandler could join that group in 2025, and if he pitches well enough down the stretch in Triple-A, he could get an early preview this season.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 6-0 led by Bubba Chandler’s debut.
- C Henry Davis: 2-for-3, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI
- 2B Nick Yorke: 2-for-5, RBI
- LF Billy Cook: 2-for-4, 2B, BB, SB
- 1B Jake Lamb: 2-for-5
- SS Alika Williams: 1-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Henry Davis hit his 12th homer of the year for Indianapolis. Nick Yorke extended his hitting streak in Triple-A to 13 games, picking up two hits on the night. Billy Cook hit his 20th double of the year in Triple-A, while stealing his 16th base.
STATCAST HEROES
Cook had a single that went 105.6 MPH and a double that went 103.4 MPH. The homer from Davis traveled 389 feet at 98.6 MPH.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA won 12-9
- CF Sammy Siani: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
- 2B Kervin Pichardo: 2-for-4, HR, BB, RBI
- 3B Jackson Glenn: 3-for-4, HR, BB, RBI
- DH Brenden Dixon: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
- 1B Carter Bins: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Sammy Siani is on a unique hot streak. Not only has he recorded a hit in each of his last eight games, but he also has a seven-game streak of multiple hits. He added a single and a double on Friday, hitting his third double in his last four games. Kervin Pichardo hit his eighth homer of the season. Brenden Dixon hit his sixth of the year. Jackson Glenn hit his fourth.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 6-0
- RHP J.P. Massey: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
- RHP Scott Randall: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- SS Termarr Johnson: 1-for-4
- CF P.J. Hilson: 1-for-3, BB, SB
- 3B Shawn Ross: 1-for-4, 2 SB
J.P. Massey opened the game with four shutout innings. After struggling early in the season, Massey is slowly building back up as a starter, reaching four innings for the first time since mid-May. Scott Randall followed him with four more shutout innings. Greensboro stole four bases on the night, including the 12th of the year by P.J. Hilson, and two from Shawn Ross, giving him nine on the season.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON won 9-4
- RHP Clevari Tejada: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
- DH Jeral Toledo: 2-for-4, 2B, SB, 2 RBI
- LF Shalin Polanco: 2-for-5, 2B
- 3B Javier Rivas: 3-for-4, 2B, SB
- CF Braylon Bishop: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI
Clevari Tejada entered the game as a reliever in the third inning and pitched 4.2 shutout innings. He started his season in the FCL, finishing with a strong run that put him in the rotation. He has a 3.38 ERA in 10.2 innings since joining the Marauders. Javier Rivas had three hits, including his 16th double. He also stole his seventh base. Shalin Polanco hit his 17th double. Braylon Bishop hit his second triple of the year.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit was a single by Esmerlyn Valdez, with a 111.8 MPH exit velocity. Polanco’s double was 106 MPH and the double from Rivas was 105.4. Jeral Toledo hit a 101.2 MPH double, and stole his sixth base of the season.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost 2-1
- RHP Irwin Ramirez: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
- RHP Victor Trejo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- LF Raymond Mola: 1-for-3, HR, RBI
The lone hit of the game came from Raymond Mola, who hit a solo homer in the fifth inning. Irwin Ramirez was one of the top international signings for the Pirates this season. He has a 4.66 ERA in 29 innings, with a 26:29 K/BB. This was his best start of the year, in terms of limiting control, limiting hits and runs, and pitching five innings for the first time.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
DSL PIRATES GOLD lost 11-9
- SS Kendrick Herrera: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI
- CF Edward Florentino: 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
- RF Cristian Jauregui: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Kendrick Herrera and Edward Florentino each had two hits. Herrera hit his second triple of the year, while Florentino hit his eighth double. They’ve been two of the best hitters from this year’s international signing class. Herrera is batting .267 with a .778 OPS, while Florentino is hitting .254 with an .877 OPS.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 7:35 PM – RHP Thomas Harrington (0-0, 7.94)
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – LHP Dominic Perachi (0-2, 5.14)
- High-A: Greensboro, 5:00 PM – RHP Carlson Reed (0-0, 0.00)
- High-A Greensboro, Game Two – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:10 PM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 10:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 10:00 AM – TBD
