The [Pittsburgh Pirates](/mlb/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-pirates) have decided to call up right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler, 22 years old, considered one of baseball’s most promising prospects, before their Friday game against the [Colorado Rockies](/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockies). The Pirates’ manager, Don Kelly, expressed his enthusiasm for adding Chandler to a pitching staff that already includes Paul Skenes, National League Rookie of the Year in 2024.
Chandler is expected to start in a long relief role. Although he had a good start in Triple-A this year, his recent performance has been inconsistent, with a 5-6 record and a 4.05 ERA in 100 innings pitched for Indianapolis. Braxton Ashcraft, a 25-year-old rookie right-hander, was used similarly after being promoted on May 26. He has a 3-2 record with a 3.02 ERA in 19 games (three starts).He will have the opportunity to earn openings like all our guys.
Don Kelly
Both Chandler and Ashcraft could eventually integrate into the starting rotation. Ashcraft has been a starter in his last two appearances, allowing two runs and six hits in a total of 8 1/3 innings.Just bring him here to the Major Leagues and put him in that role. You saw Ashcraft really thrive in it. He got his feet wet in the bullpen, had some really important outings… Having Chandler in a situation like that, he can come out to the bullpen and work on things at the Major League level and be here to learn from the guys here, and learn from the staff, the players, and get feedback from the Major League meetings. It’s very, very important for him and for us.
Don Kelly
The Pirates have been cautious with Chandler’s workload since he committed to full-time pitching before the 2023 season, after being projected as a two-way player when he was drafted in 2021. Chandler played shortstop and designated hitter early in his minor league career, but struggled at the plate, batting just .184 with Greensboro in 2022. In February, Chandler joked that he learned in the minors that, for a position player, he’s a pretty good pitcher. And potentially very good. However, Pittsburgh has been cautious about bringing in Chandler. He threw 106 innings in 2023 and 119 innings last season.I think he made me a better pitcher.
Braxton Ashcraft
Chandler got off to a promising start in Triple-A this spring, with an ERA of 1.33 in April and 2.54 in May. However, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington had been reluctant to promote Chandler, citing his relative inexperience compared to Skenes, who had a standout career at LSU before the Pirates called him up in May 2024.
Chandler’s performance has decreased lately. He went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts this month for Indianapolis. However, with Pittsburgh headed for a last-place finish in the National League Central, Chandler will get an extended opportunity in the majors as the club aims for 2026.The top of the Pirates’ rotation for next year appears to be set with Skenes and Mitch Keller. The other three spots are a question mark at the moment, with Jared Jones (who missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery), Mike Burrows, Ashcraft, and Johan Oviedo (who made his second start on Wednesday after undergoing his own Tommy John surgery in late 2023), all in the mix. Chandler can join them with a solid performance, as the club will likely look for opportunities to put him in low-pressure situations. That way, having him available for a weekend series against the worst team in MLB, Colorado, makes sense.He’s an extreme competitor. He did the same kind of things I grew up doing: playing football and baseball, and any other sport you can play. What that boils down to is enjoying competing and he’ll excel in any opportunity he has to do it.
Braxton Ashcraft
It’s fun to see everyone make it to the big leagues, for the most part, excluding some guys, for now. But yeah, it’s a cool thing to be able to walk into a clubhouse knowing you’re going to be with guys who have helped you get to this point, straight up. Just excited to see what next year and the years after that have in store for us and Pittsburgh.
Braxton Ashcraft
