Pirates finally give Bubba Chandler long overdue shot that comes with a big twist

It's finally happening. The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler to the Major Leagues, according to a report from Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Pirates will select Chandler's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis to the Major League roster on Friday, ahead of their home series opener against the Colorado Rockies. They already have two open spots on the active roster, so a corresponding move will not be necessary.

Hiles added that Chandler, who has been developed as a starting pitcher throughout his minor league career, will join the Pirates' bullpen and pitch in a long relief role. According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pirates still view Chandler as a starter long-term and could be in line for starts at the Major League level later this year.

Pirates finally give Bubba Chandler long overdue shot that comes with a big twist

It's a long-awaited promotion for Chandler, who is the top pitching prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. The right-hander has posted a 5-6 record over 24 starts with Indianapolis this season, including a 4.05 ERA through 100 innings pitched.

Chandler excelled early in the season at Triple-A, posting a 2.03 ERA and a 35% strikeout rate in 11 starts through the end of May, but he has struggled with inconsistency later in the summer. His command has faltered significantly, resulting in a 5.96 ERA with a 22.1% strikeout rate and 13.1% walk rate since the beginning of June.

Pittsburgh's third-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Chandler will finally get the chance to prove himself at the big-league level, albeit as a reliever. The Pirates appear to be following a path similar to how they handled the call-up of fellow pitching prospect Braxton Ashcraft earlier in the season, and it's yielded strong returns. Ashcraft, who had also been developed as a starter, has a 3-2 record and a 3.02 ERA through 41 2/3 innings over 19 appearances out of the bullpen this season.

Chandler will get a low-pressure opportunity to wade into the big leagues in Pittsburgh this weekend against the National League-worst Rockies. If the Pirates can help Chandler get his command under control, he should earn at least a few starts before the end of the season, giving fans a glimpse of what's to come in 2026.

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