| Bubba Chandler | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chandler with theFCL Pirates in 2022 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 57 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (2002-09-14)September 14, 2002 (age 22) Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
Roy Ruben "Bubba"Chandler (born September 14, 2002) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for thePittsburgh Pirates organization.
Chandler lives inBogart, Georgia, and attendedNorth Oconee High School, where he was a member of the baseball and football teams.[1] He started on the varsity basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years and was also a member of the golf team before focusing on football and baseball.[2][3] Chandler was initially only recruited by college baseball programs and committed to play at the University of Georgia going into his junior year of high school after posting a 7–0 record with 55 strikeouts in41+1⁄3 innings as a pitcher and batting .356 with 14 doubles and 25 RBIs the previous season.[4][5]
During his junior football season, Chandler completed 167 of 220 passing attempts for 2,098 yards and 27 touchdowns while also rushing for 505 yards and four touchdowns. In baseball, he batted .435 with two home runs, five doubles and 16 RBIs and struck out 16 batters in seven innings pitched before the season was cut short due to thecoronavirus pandemic.[6] Later in the year, Chandler decommitted from Georgia and then committed to play both college football and baseball at Clemson.[7] During the summer he gained 35 pounds and developed a slider after studying Vanderbilt pitcherKumar Rocker.[8] As a senior, Chandler was named the Region 8 4A Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 1,842 yards and 18 touchdowns while also rushing for 548 yards and six touchdowns.[9] During his senior baseball season he also established himself as one of the besttwo-way prospects in the2021 Major League Baseball Draft.[10][11] Chandler finished his senior baseball season with an 8–1 record and a 1.25 ERA with 96 strikeouts over44+2⁄3 innings pitched and also batted .411 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and 41 runs scored.[12]
ThePittsburgh Pirates selected Chandler in the third round, with the 72nd overall pick, in the2021 Major League Baseball draft.[13] He signed with Pittsburgh on July 21, 2021, for an over slotsigning bonus of $3 million.[14] After signing with the team Chandler was assigned to theRookie-levelFlorida Complex League Pirates, where he played in 11 games as a shortstop and designated hitter and batted .167.[15]
Chandler returned to the Florida Complex League Pirates after beginning the 2022 season in extended spring training.[16] He was promoted to theBradenton Marauders of theSingle-AFlorida State League.[17] Chandler decided to give up playing shortstop and focus solely on pitching entering the 2023 season.[18]