Bubba Chandler just reached a height Paul Skenes never did among MLB Top 100 prospects

The anticipation building towards Bubba Chandler's Pirates debut was already very high. Somehow, it got even higher this week. MLB Pipeline just released their updated top 100 prospect list, and Chandler came in as the second-ranked prospect in the current field. That makes him the highest-rated Pirates prospect in the history of this list, earning a higher league-wide ranking than even Paul Skenes one year ago.

Skenes was ranked as MLB's third-best prospect in the 2024 cycle, just behind Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio. That puts Chandler as the highest-ranked prospect in Pirates history at No. 2. He is just behind Roman Anthony of the Red Sox.

For how highly touted Skenes was as the No. 1 overall pick, Chandler ranking ahead of him is a bit surprising, but Pittsburgh isn't complaining. MLB insider Robert Murray recently stated that he expects Chandler to come up around May 15, meaning today's news dropped at the perfect time.

Chandler has already been chosen by various outlets to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2025. Once he makes his debut, he will be in Pittsburgh to stay, and that will greatly impact the roster by pushing Carmen Mlodzinski back to the bullpen, right where he should be.

So far to begin 2025, Chandler has tossed 28 innings, posting a 2.25 ERA with a WHIP of 0.93 and a 13.18 K/9. He has been dominant in Triple-A, and that could be coming to Pittsburgh real soon.

Bubba Chandler has made Pirates history as franchise's highest-ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline's updated top 100 prospects.

There are four other Pirates prospects who've been ranked as well, starting with Konnor Griffin coming in at No. 37. He is the best position player in the Pirates minor leagues. Griffin has generated a 132 wRC+ with an .845 OPS so far in his first taste of professional baseball.

Next is Thomas Harrington at No. 84. He came up in the first week of the season and struggled, posting a 10.13 ERA with a 2.00 WHIP. He has struggled in Triple-A too, so hopefully he can turn things around and live up to his ranking.

At No. 87 is Termarr Johnson, another middle infield prospect that has a lot of upside at the plate. He has great plate discipline for a 20-year-old prospect in Double-A, and that has helped him produce a 122 wRC+ with a .756 OPS to begin 2025.

Hunter Barco concludes the Pirates on this list at No. 97. He recently joined the list at No. 100, but has already moved up three spots in the updated list. After over 30 innings, Barco allowed his first earned run of the season in his Triple-A debut. He has been lights out with an 0.30 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.

The future is bright in Pittsburgh with these prospects. Seeing five of them in MLB Pipeline's newest list is very exciting, and Chandler's spot is the most significant, surpassing Skenes as the highest-ranked Pirates prospect ever on this list.