7-13-24 – By Ethan Smith – @mvp_EtHaN on X
With Paul Skenes dominating MLB and starting for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game, much of the focus has been on the 22-year old phenom, but alongside Bryan Reynolds, the duo aren’t the only members of the Pirates organization getting recognition during the All-Star festivities.
Due to Skenes graduating from prospect status, the Pirates have a new top-two when it comes to their prospects, as starting pitcher Bubba Chandler, currently in AA-Altoona, and second baseman Termarr Johnson, currently in High-A Greensboro, took over as the top prospects in the Pirates organization.
Both were honored with selections for MLB’s 2024 Futures Game, an event, which began in 1999, to showcase the best young talent in baseball on a national stage and recently became a part of the All-Star festivities, much like the MLB Draft.
As for the game itself, it was a get on base for free clinic, especially or American League pitching prospects. Walks, hit by pitches and defensive ineptitude loaded the bases 3 consecutive innings for the NL at one point. Termarr got on in a more traditional fashion.
He’d finish the day 1 for 2 with a run scored. Solid outing for the youngster who hopes to cap the night off with a win in the first ever Futures Game Skills Contest.
Bubba Chandler was told before the game he’d be closing this one out for the National League, and I’m quite sure he pictured a tighter contest when he was informed.
In his one inning of work, 1 hit to Kyle Teel who looked great himself today, 1 K and he hit 97-99 on the gun routinely. Looks noticeably more polished than many of his counterparts.
He shrugged it right off and finished his job.
NL wins this one 6-1 and the Bucco kids showed well.
Chandler has been electric for the Curve in AA this year, posting a 3.53 ERA, 77 strikeouts and a 1.01 WHIP in 63.2 innings across 14 starts and 16 total appearances. Arguably more impressive is his .185 opponent’s batting average allowed, a showcase of the above-average stuff that Chandler has the potential to continue to grow with.
The 21-year old right-hander already has a four-pitch mix, which features a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup, all of which have pretty solid command and control already. The worries come from the curveball and changeup, pitches that Chandler has used mainly below the zone as potential plus-chase pitches, bringing down his strikeout rates and strike rates just tad.
The real fun comes with the fastball and slider, with the fastball touching upper-90s at times while being consistent in the mid-90s and having a ton of spin and movement that fools hitters. Much like we’ve seen from Jared Jones, Chandler’s slider has become a great secondary pitch, using immense horizontal and even some good vertical movement to make the pitch a true strikeout offering.
Blend all of that together for Chandler, and it’s no shock he got an offer to be in the Futures Game, and with his athleticism being a massive plus as a former high school quarterback, who had an offer from Dabo Swinney and Clemson mind you, the sky is the limit for Chandler, with a potential debut coming sometime in 2025.
As for Johnson, he’s already had an interesting beginning to his professional career, especially in 2024, hitting just .195 and .204 in April and May this year with High-A Greensboro, but since the calendar turned to June, Johnson has truly tapped into his potential as a plus-bat with a ton of power and contact ability.
Johnson slashed .266/.372/.426 with 4 HR and 13 RBIs in June, and he hasn’t stopped in July, slashing .400/.526/.667 with 2 HR and 7 RBIs in eight game so far in July.
The left-handed second baseman became an immediate prize in the 2022 MLB Draft, being considered as one of the best high school hitters over the past decade and change. Going in the top-five of that class was never in doubt for Johnson, but he even garnered number one overall potential, due to his superb hand-eye coordination, his bat speed and his ability to produce power out of his 5-foot-8, 175 pound frame.
As a shortstop in high school, many knew that Johnson would make the change to second base, as his range and hands don’t fit the profile as an even average shortstop, but defense most surely won’t carry Johnson through the system, it will be his bat, a bat that has the potential to be the best the Pirates have seen in quite some time.
Unlike Chandler, it’s not a definitive take to assume Johnson will absolutely be on the roster in 2025, but if he continues to tear through the minor leagues, he’ll stake his claim at some point, with 2026 likely being his first full-time season on the big league roster.
For the Pirates, Chandler has the potential down the road to be another fabulous addition to an already loaded starting pitch staff, assuming they all stay healthy of course, and the belief is that Chandler has the stuff to be elite at the big-league level if he continue to throw strikes with efficiency. Johnson is easily the best bat the Pirates have in their system, and that won’t change until he graduates. The tools are there, he just has to use them consistently, and he’ll be a book-in second base option for a long-time, especially if the defense can even be average.
Watch these guys grow, and you’ll be amazed with what you see, and congrats to both of them for appearing and playing in the 2024 MLB Futures Game.
Steel City Pirates 