Rum Bunter
FanSided

Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Rum Bunter’s Preseason Top 10

By Noah Wright

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 18: Catcher Henry Davis, who was selected first overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates takes batting practice on the field after signing a contract with the Pirates at PNC Park on July 18, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 18: Catcher Henry Davis, who was selected first overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates takes batting practice on the field after signing a contract with the Pirates at PNC Park on July 18, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
Pittsburgh Pirates
North Oconee’s Bubba Chandler throws a pitch during game one of a GHSA AAAA semifinal between Benedictine and North Oconee in Bogart, Ga., on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Benedictine defeated North Oconee twice in a doubleheader and advances to the state championship game.News Joshua L Jones /

Number 7 – RHP/SS Bubba Chandler

The Pirates picked Bubba Chandler in the third round after Solometo and White Jr. But make no mistake. Chandler is no ordinary third-round pick, and he’s arguably the second-best player the Pirates got in the 2021 amateur draft.

Chandler is a two-way prospect as he was a right-handed pitcher and shortstop at North Oconee High School. He was talented on both sides of the ball and was projected to go within the first 15-20 picks. So why did he fall to the Pittsburgh Pirates at no. 72? It was his commitment to Clemson as a football player. It took a big over slot bonus of $3 million to sign the high school pick.

As a pitcher, Chandler is a guy who could lead a starting rotation. He has a fastball that’s already topping out around 97 MPH, and he usually sits around 92-95 MPH. That’s still a very hard fastball for a kid younger than 20-years-old. It’s an offering with 60-grade potential. He also carries a plus curveball, as well as a solid slider. The right-hander has a feel for his change-up, and it should be an average pitch.

Not only does he have four distinct offerings, but they all have distinct speeds. His slider usually comes in around the mid-80’s, and he takes off a lot on his curveball, down in the upper-70’s. Then there’s his change-up that resides around the low-80’s.

As a shortstop, he’s a guy who can provide a plus glove up the middle with 15-20 home runs yearly. He’s a switch-hitter as well, which works in his favor. He also has plus speed, so the Pirates could move him around if they felt like it. They’ll likely develop him as a pitcher first, but keeping him as a two-way player, at least so he can provide the team with a pinch hitter and super-sub player, might be the route they take with Chandler.

Chandler was a player who was supposed to go in the first draft round but fell to the Pirates in the third round. He’s a potential two-way star, and while he’s only 19-years-old, he will be entertaining to watch through the minors.

Home/Pirates Prospects