Bubba Chandler's biggest Pirates breakthrough has nothing to do with velocity

Bubba Chandler can still light up a radar gun. That part of his game has never been in question.

The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander touched triple digits again in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins at PNC Park, showing off the kind of raw arm talent that has made him one of the most exciting young pitchers in the organization. But the most encouraging part of his latest outing had very little to do with how hard he threw.

Chandler did not factor into the decision, but he gave the Pirates a strong start, allowing two earned runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one batter, hit another and struck out six. It was not a dominant outing in the traditional sense, but it was the kind of start that showed why his development has become so important for Pittsburgh’s rotation.

Chandler’s four-seamer wasn't necessarily overpowering against the Marlins, producing just one whiff on 12 swings. For a pitcher with his velocity, that might seem underwhelming. But for once, instead of trying to force the fastball to carry him, Chandler found another way.

His slider was the difference-maker against Miami. He generated eight whiffs on 13 swings with the pitch, and the key was not simply throwing it harder or nastier. It was throwing it with more feel, more confidence and a better understanding of when to take something off.

Bubba Chandler showed more maturity, composure under pressure in latest Pirates start

Chandler is learning that pitching at the Major League level is not just about lighting up the radar gun or overwhelming hitters with pure stuff. It' about sequencing. It's about command. It is about knowing when to challenge hitters, when to expand the zone and when to trust a secondary pitch in a spot where a younger version of himself might have tried to blow a fastball past someone.

Just as important, Chandler showed progress in the way he handled traffic. Earlier this season, one of the concerns with his outings was how quickly an inning could get away from him once he fell behind or put a runner on base. That's part of the learning curve for any young pitcher, especially one still figuring out how to survive when he does not have his best fastball command.

Against Miami, Chandler looked more comfortable pitching from behind in counts and working through uncomfortable spots without letting the game speed up on him. He did not allow one mistake to turn into three, and he did not let a long inning snowball into the kind of rapid unraveling that has hurt him before. For a rookie with his stuff, that kind of composure is every bit as important as the swing-and-miss.

Chandler doesn't need to abandon what makes him special. His velocity is still part of the package, and it will always be one of the traits that gives him such a high ceiling. But starts like this show that his ceiling is not tied only to radar-gun readings.

The Pirates already knew Chandler had electric stuff. What they are seeing now is a rookie learning how to use it. That is a much bigger development than another 100 mph fastball.

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