On this submit, which the powers that be (me) have began calling: Looking For Sugar, Man. Not Trying to find Sugar Man, the documentary that received the Academy Award. That is placing Paul Skenes into an enormous sugar packet and looking for extra of that. Might have referred to as it Trying to find the Subsequent Paul Skenes, I suppose. On this Looking For Sugar, Man, it’s simply me flipping by means of minor league stats for a terrific pitcher. As I mentioned in my Jackson Jobe fantasy the opposite day, it will be very troublesome to seek out one other Paul Skenes, since we’ve performed roughly one hundred-ish years of baseball and there’s been about 5 rookie pitchers who’ve been nearly as good as Skenes. No massive deal, simply exit and provides us one thing we solely see each 20 or so years. As talked about earlier this yr when discussing Skenes, I attempted to give you the perfect rookie seasons for pitchers, and I believe it’s 1. Mark Fidyrich 2. Fernando Valenzuela (RIP) 3. Dwight Gooden 4. Tom Seaver 5. Jose Fernandez, 6. John Montefusco, then Paul Skenes. Bubba Chandler might be nice and value rostering for fantasy, and never come anyplace near approaching that record. So, what can we count on from Bubba Chandler for 2025 fantasy baseball?
First, right here’s some clips of Bubba Chandler:
No massive deal, simply Bubba Chandler taking an ideal recreation into the sixth with 10 punchies for the @indyindians ?
The @Pirates‘ top-ranked prospect has a 1.59 ERA since arriving on the Minors’ highest degree final month. pic.twitter.com/zIB0EE4swp
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 11, 2024
Then, the dazzles continued:
Bubba Chandler’s (@Pirates No. 1 prospect) numbers throughout seven Triple-A @indyindians begins after 8 punchouts Tuesday evening:?? 1.83 ERA? 12.4 Ok/9?? .183 BAA pic.twitter.com/zFZYji4u6Y
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 18, 2024
And, the well-attended last clip:
.@Bubbachandler_ is rolling.
5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 Ok on 69 pitches, 51 strikes. pic.twitter.com/KTPSp9wj87
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 8, 2023
Fairly a turnout to see the Altoona Curve in that final clip. I needed to rapidly google to see if there was a pandemic in Altoona in 2023. There wasn’t from what I noticed. Bubba Chandler’s Triple-A stats have been talked about in that 2nd clip, I received’t repeat them right here. That was with a 3.4 BB/9. Chandler additionally noticed velocity will increase, up 1.4 MPH, and elevated extension, whereas reducing his launch top, and his speedball was already sitting 97. Goofy. His 87 MPH change has turn out to be an issue and his slider is a WIP, work in progress (acronyms aren’t nice when you must spell them out). Once I watch his clips, I see a man working onerous. That’s not nice both. These are quibbles. I’m simply separating him from Skenes-like expectations.
Bubba Chandler simply turned 22 years outdated and is usually a dynamite quantity two. His command has me slightly involved. He appears to be like like he might be a Hunter Greene-type who takes slightly bit to seek out his MLB footing. Then you must assume he’s going to begin the yr within the minors as a result of: Pirates. Appears like a man who can be a last-round choice in 12-team leagues, and possibly a better flier (dude, I obtained rhymes!) in draft and holds, as we await his arrival. Skenes’s ETA was Might eleventh, so when is Bubba Chandler? Are you pondering Might or June? What if I mentioned Opening Day? Have a look at what the Pirates did with Jared Jones, beginning him from the soar. The Pirates would possibly see Skenes and suppose they wish to save him for themselves and stall his arbitration, whereas Jones and Chandler are effective to begin the yr. Which may not be the craziest thought. Going out on a limb however I say that’s what the Pirates do. That limb is just like the prolonged arm of a 6’2″, 200-pound pitcher named Bubba. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Bubba Chandler projections of 8-10/3.95/1.36/153 in 138 IP with an opportunity for extra.
