In the realm of baseball, anticipation is building around Pittsburgh Pirates' right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler as he gears up for a pivotal 2026 season that many believe could define his career. This isn’t just any season; it’s one that carries high expectations from fans and analysts alike, especially given the bold prediction made by ESPN's AJ Mass. He confidently forecasts that Chandler will clinch the National League Rookie of the Year Award, a claim that adds even more excitement to the upcoming games.
Mass had initially speculated last year that Chandler might snag the Rookie of the Year title, but due to a late-season promotion, that potential went unfulfilled. Despite some anticipated challenges ahead, Mass recognizes Chandler's talent, especially following his impressive late-season performance last year, which hinted at his capability to become one of baseball's rising stars.
"Honestly, I thought Chandler was well-positioned for this award last year, but the Pirates chose to wait until late August for his promotion," Mass noted in his analysis. "After his call-up, he managed to secure four victories in just seven appearances—outperforming fellow pitcher Paul Skenes during that stretch.
Is Chandler truly that exceptional? While he may not be perfect and will undoubtedly face his share of growing pains, it’s important to look beyond his challenging debut against the Braves, where he allowed nine earned runs in just 2.2 innings. If we exclude that outing, his ERA stands at an impressive 1.57, comparable to Skenes' performances.
So, what makes Bubba Chandler a strong candidate for the Rookie of the Year Award? Although he only played the final month and a half of last season with the Pirates, he showcased precisely why he is regarded as the top right-handed pitching prospect in the league. His four-seam fastball is nothing short of remarkable, averaging nearly 98.9 mph and occasionally exceeding 100 mph.
Additionally, Chandler wields two highly effective off-speed pitches: a changeup and a slider, which opposing batters struggled to hit, recording averages of .080 and .087 against them last season, respectively. His changeup hovers around 91.7 mph, while his slider isn’t far behind at 89.0 mph. The velocity of these pitches contributes significantly to their effectiveness on the mound.
However, there are areas for improvement. Chandler has faced difficulties with command, especially when competing against top-hitting teams. Nevertheless, against lesser opponents, he displayed courage in deploying his fastball decisively, blending in off-speed pitches for both strikeouts and groundouts. If he can refine his command and continue to develop throughout the 2025 season, he stands a solid chance to follow in teammate Paul Skenes’ footsteps and potentially secure the coveted Rookie of the Year title.
Reflecting on Chandler's 2025 experience with the Pirates, he was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on August 22, where he immediately made a mark. In his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies, he delivered an outstanding performance by throwing four scoreless innings in relief during a commanding 9-0 victory for the Pirates.
Chandler followed up this success by achieving another scoreless four-inning appearance in a nail-biting 2-1 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals on August 27, marking his first MLB win. Remarkably, he became the first pitcher in Pirates history to record a save and a win within his initial two MLB games.
His subsequent outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 2 saw him give up two home runs and three earned runs over four innings, but he still managed to secure his second win in a thrilling 9-7 match. Unfortunately, Chandler's first official MLB start against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 7 was less favorable, where he endured his toughest outing, yielding nine earned runs across 2.2 innings during a 10-2 loss.
Despite this setback, he rebounded impressively in his last three starts, allowing merely six hits, no walks, and two earned runs over a total of 16.2 innings while striking out 19 batters. Notably, he nearly pitched a perfect game against the Washington Nationals on September 13, completing five innings without giving up a hit before allowing two hits and one run. The Pirates ultimately secured a 5-1 victory in that game, resulting in a no-decision for Chandler.
In summary, Chandler concluded his inaugural stint in the major leagues with a record of 4-1, having participated in seven games and starting four of them. He maintained a 4.02 ERA over 31.1 innings, accumulating 31 strikeouts against just four walks, while holding opponents to a .214 batting average and achieving a remarkable 0.93 WHIP.
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