Bubba Chandler #57

Roy Reuben (Bubba) Chandler...Was rated by Baseball America as the 20th-bestplayer (21st by MLB Pipeline) in the 2021 draft....Went 8-1 with a 1.25 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 44.2innings while setting a school record in the playoffs with a 17-strikeout performance during his senior year at North Oconee High School; also hit .411 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 35 RBI and 41 runs scored while playing shortstop....Struck out 16 batters in 7.0 innings during an abbreviated 2020 season while also hitting .435....Was a Collegiate Baseball first-team All-American selection as a multi-position athlete in 2021....Was named a Georgia 4-A all-state first-team selection in baseball during his senior season... Was the 2021 Region 8-AAAA Player of the Year in baseball....Played quarterback for three seasons at North Oconee, where he passed for 1,842 yards and 18 touchdowns while also rushing 79 times for 548 yards and six touchdowns as a senior....Was rated by Perfect Game as the 13th-best player in the class of 2021, the third-best player in the state of Georgia and the fourth-best right-handed pitcher among the class of 2021 (No. 1 in the state of Georgia among right-handed pitchers for the class of 2021)....Was committed to play both football and baseball at Clemson University prior to signing with the Pirates....Was signed by Pirates scout Cam Murphy.

2023

Worked exclusively as a pitcher after beginning his professional career as a two-way player… Ranked third among all Pirates Minor Leaguers in strikeouts (128) while going a combined 10-4 with a 4.54 ERA (111.0ip/56er) in 25 starts between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona...Entered the season rated by Baseball America as the “Best Athlete” and as having the “Best Fastball” in Pittsburgh’s minor league system…Began the year with Greensboro…Ranked second in the South Atlantic League in wins (nine), tied for sixth in strikeouts (120) and fifth in batting average against (.265)…Recorded a 1.85 ERA in his final eight starts with Greensboro, which was the second-lowest ERA among all qualified pitchers at the High-A level between 7/18 and 9/2…Retired 13 straight batters to begin his Double-A career, allowing only a bloop single in his Double-A debut on 9/8 vs. Harrisburg…Was one of 13 pitchers to reach Double-A at age 20-or-younger.