Pittsburgh Pirates Predicted to Have Second-Straight Rookie of Year

Title: Pittsburgh Pirates Predicted to Have Second-Straight Rookie of Year The Pittsburgh Pirates are predicted to potentially secure their second consecutive National League Rookie of the Year award, following Paul Skenes' historic rookie season. Bubba Chandler, the Pirates' top pitching prospect and ranked No. 15 overall by MLB Pipeline, is forecasted to win the NL Rookie of the Year in 2025. Chandler finished the 2024 season strongly, which has contributed to the optimism surrounding his potential debut. The trade of right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz to the Cleveland Guardians for first baseman Spencer Horwitz may create an opportunity for Chandler in the Pirates' rotation. Chandler had an impressive performance in the 2024 season, with a record of 10-7, a 3.08 ERA, and 148 strikeouts over 119.2 innings. At Triple-A Indianapolis, Chandler excelled with a 4-0 record and a 1.83 ERA, striking out 54 batters in 39.1 innings. The Pirates demonstrated patience with Skenes last season, allowing him to develop in the minors before making his big league debut. There is speculation that Chandler could follow a similar path to Skenes, possibly debuting later in the 2025 season. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo believes that Chandler has a strong chance to join the Pirates' rotation sooner rather than later. The overall depth of the Pirates' pitching rotation and their recent trades may influence Chandler's timeline for making his MLB debut.

Original Article: https://www.si.com/mlb/pirates/news/pittsburgh-pirates-predicted-second-straight-rookie-year-bubba-chandler

Original Article Author: Nathaniel Marrero