BubbaChandler's introduction to BrentStrom this past weekend in Pittsburgh didn't exactly happen on purpose. Chandler was in the lobby of his hotel when he noticed an older gentleman sitting next to him.
"I was like, 'Man, that guy looks slightly familiar. He looks like he's important,'" Chandler explained Sunday at PiratesFest. "I sit down and he looks at me and he goes, 'Do you pitch?' I was like, 'Yeah.' He was like, 'Oh, I'm Stromy.' I was like, 'Oh, it's nice to meet you.' We had dinner and talked for about two hours. Then, I threw a bullpen the next day and he was there. Smart dude, really smart."
The Pirates' top prospect is aware of the success Strom has had in his lengthy coaching career. He knows his history with the Astros and looks forward to learning from a pitching mind who has worked with talented staffs, and has a World Series ring to prove it.
"He definitely knows what he's talking about and he's been around the game forever," Chandler said. "Super excited to really just get a lot of time with him, spend time with him and talk about pitching and how to succeed."
Strom watched PaulSkenes throw a bullpen over the weekend, too, reuniting with the star pitcher he had the chance to interact with for the first time at the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. Like Chandler, Skenes clearly sees the benefit of Strom's addition to the coaching staff.
"I haven't heard anything bad about him, so I'm super excited. I think he and Oscar (Marin) are going to complement each other really well, along with the other pitching guys that we have," Skenes said, adding new bullpen coach and former Class AAA Indianapolis manager MiguelPerez to that mix. "Miggy's awesome and is going to be a great addition in the bullpen. He has knowledge of the game and then just as a culture guy, too, he's great. I'm fired up about those guys on the pitching side."
PeterStrzelecki, a right-handed relief pitcher acquired from the Guardians in November, didn't get much time with Strom during a brief stint in Arizona in 2023. Still, he does have a bit of familiarity with him and has heard nothing but positive feedback from former teammates who shared time with Strom in Houston.
"I'm definitely excited just to see what he has for me," Strzelecki said. "He already was saying how I look like a different pitcher than he saw in Arizona. So, just excited to get that going."
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THE ASYLUM
José Negron
1:38 pm - 01.21.2025DowntownPitchers 'excited' to learn more from Strom
Bubba Chandler's introduction to Brent Strom this past weekend in Pittsburgh didn't exactly happen on purpose. Chandler was in the lobby of his hotel when he noticed an older gentleman sitting next to him.
"I was like, 'Man, that guy looks slightly familiar. He looks like he's important,'" Chandler explained Sunday at PiratesFest. "I sit down and he looks at me and he goes, 'Do you pitch?' I was like, 'Yeah.' He was like, 'Oh, I'm Stromy.' I was like, 'Oh, it's nice to meet you.' We had dinner and talked for about two hours. Then, I threw a bullpen the next day and he was there. Smart dude, really smart."
The Pirates' top prospect is aware of the success Strom has had in his lengthy coaching career. He knows his history with the Astros and looks forward to learning from a pitching mind who has worked with talented staffs, and has a World Series ring to prove it.
"He definitely knows what he's talking about and he's been around the game forever," Chandler said. "Super excited to really just get a lot of time with him, spend time with him and talk about pitching and how to succeed."
Strom watched Paul Skenes throw a bullpen over the weekend, too, reuniting with the star pitcher he had the chance to interact with for the first time at the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. Like Chandler, Skenes clearly sees the benefit of Strom's addition to the coaching staff.
"I haven't heard anything bad about him, so I'm super excited. I think he and Oscar (Marin) are going to complement each other really well, along with the other pitching guys that we have," Skenes said, adding new bullpen coach and former Class AAA Indianapolis manager Miguel Perez to that mix. "Miggy's awesome and is going to be a great addition in the bullpen. He has knowledge of the game and then just as a culture guy, too, he's great. I'm fired up about those guys on the pitching side."
Peter Strzelecki, a right-handed relief pitcher acquired from the Guardians in November, didn't get much time with Strom during a brief stint in Arizona in 2023. Still, he does have a bit of familiarity with him and has heard nothing but positive feedback from former teammates who shared time with Strom in Houston.
"I'm definitely excited just to see what he has for me," Strzelecki said. "He already was saying how I look like a different pitcher than he saw in Arizona. So, just excited to get that going."
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