ALTOONA, Pa. -- At this point last season Bubba Chandler had to make a life-changing decision: sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates or continue on as a football player for Clemson.
He chose baseball.
"It was pretty easy. I was at peace with what I wanted to do and my decision and (Clemson head coach) Dabo Swinney knew where my heart was," Chandler said. "He told me it was just trusting God, and he's going to lead the right right way for you."
The decision to sign with the Pirates might have been easy, but that doesn't mean emotions weren't involved for Chandler who had been at Clemson nearly a month for summer workouts at the time of the draft.
"It was kind of emotional for me because I was up there for close to a month and in that short time period I got to meet guys and be friends with guys who I'll be friends with the rest of my life and guys who are going to play in the NFL and do great things in this world."
Fast forward and now just a year later Chandler is both toeing the rubber and stepping to the plate as a two-way player for the Bradenton Marauders.
In a sport predicated on routine being a two-way player demands a strict routine in order for Chandler to get the appropriate work in for both positions. Chandler hits four days a week, throws one bullpen and makes one start on the mound for the Marauders after being promoted from the Florida Complex League last week.
Finding a routine that worked for Chandler took time, a long time actually as it wasn't until the spring and during his time in the Complex League where he found what works for him.
"It's really just knowing your limits with some things," Chandler said. " It took me almost a year to find out what what things I can and cannot do to be successful, not only at pitching, but also hitting and being able to survive a long season like minor leagues and Major League Baseball seasons are."
Realizing and understanding those limits are difficult for first-year players let alone 19-year old players such as Chandler who's playing on both sides. Chandler, to his credit, has taken that in stride and seems to be preparing for what could be a very long career in the game of baseball as a two-way player.
"Working out right, eating right, and finding the consistency between being a kid and then being professional athlete," Chandler said. "I finally found that, so it's not as hard as some people make it out to be. But also, your body is a little more tired than more people than most people's. But once you find that good routine, I guess it is pretty much second hand nature."
Chandler may have been searching for his routine since being drafted, but who he is as a player hasn't changed.
"What makes Bubba Bubba? He listens to God and He listens to his family and friends that he's close with. Just lets them lead him in the right direction and listen to this heart," Chander said. "Love to have fun. Just if I'm not smiling on a baseball field, if I'm not smiling in general, whenever you see me just know something's wrong. So just try to be the most fun charismatic guy out there."
On the field though, that charisma channels into his football mentality especially when he's on the mound.
"When I'm pitching if you talk to me I would I'd actually just want to punch you in the face, but my mind set on the mound is a little more I say hectic than in the box ... I'm in kill mode. I'm in like that football mentality mode whenever I'm on the mound. And I mean, I think that helps you be a so called like bulldog on the mound and get through certain situations."
While a bulldog on the mound, at the plate Chandler has a different approach, one that's changed vastly since arriving in Bradenton after he was drafted.
"What my mentality was when I got down here was I am just going to be the athlete I am and just just flip balls over the fence and just do all that," Chandler said. "It's kind of hard to flip balls over the fence when guys are still in 98 to 100 with the power slider so once I got out of that high school kid mindset, I just put my head forward and decided to baseball is all about being consistent and finding that right consistency."
That consistency has been fed by his experiences from being a multi-sport athlete growing up in Athens, Ga. It was there where his mental toughness was forged and developed which has helped him get to this point in his career just a year after graduating high school.
"The mental side of life. Alright, life's hard. And this stuff's hard, but things you'll go through in life are gonna be way harder. So why sweat about stuff we're doing right now. Just get through it and sweating about it."
The Georgia heat and humidity he grew up in has turned into Bradenton heat and humidity, which is where he will be for the foreseeable future and that's by design. For Chandler though, it's all about staying in the moment and staying true to himself.
"The goal is always move up as fast as you can. But really, I mean, wherever I'm at, where my feet are planted, I'm always going to try to be great," Chandler said. "Bradenton won the Florida State League championship last year and that's just the whole goal, to win it again, no matter how we do it. I'm just trying to do my part, what I got to do for the team, have fun, and just make some memories with some great people."
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
This is the new DKPS top-10 ranking of the Pirates' prospects, as selected -- and debated -- by our baseball staff of Alex Stumpf, Chris Halicke, Cory Giger and myself.
Please note that players selected in this year's draft will not be added until after they sign.
Each week, we'll move players up and down as warranted, though the final ranking's always intended to reflect the overarching potential for their performance upon arriving in Pittsburgh, rather than being a short-term hot/cold list. Also, if they're in the majors, even on an emergency basis, they won't be on this list. It's for players in the minors.
1. HENRY DAVIS (1)
Position: Catcher
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2021
Age: 22
Stats: .268/.399/.483, 7 HR, 31 RBIs
Davis was placed on the injured list again on July 8 because of the same left wrist injury that sidelined him in May. The Pirates don't view it as a long-term issue, but he will rest it for a few weeks before the club formulates a plan to get him back into game action.
2. MIKE BURROWS (2)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Class AAA Indianapolis
Acquired: Pirates' 11th-round pick, 2018
Age: 22
Stats: 4-4, 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 88 K, 20 BB
Burrows threw a scoreless inning Saturday during the Futures Game. He allowed one hit while striking out one and walking one. His trajectory is still up, though, and he could potentially crack top 100 lists by the end of the season.
3. LIOVER PEGUERO (3)
Position: Shortstop
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Trade with Diamondbacks, 2020
Age: 21
Stats: .276/.316/.422, 6 HRs, 37 RBIs
Peguero left Friday's game as a precaution after being hit by a pitch in the helmet. He was upbeat and his status was encouraging in the clubhouse following the game. He didn't see any action the rest of the weekend, but I wouldn't look to far into that as the team headed into the break.
4. QUINN PRIESTER (4)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2019
Age: 21
Stats: 1-1, 3.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 25 K, 7 BB
Priester threw more than five innings twice in the past week and failed to yield a run in either outing. He struck out nine and walked only two between the two outings and his ERA is down to 2.11 on the season for Altoona.
5. NICK GONZALES (5)
Position: Second base
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2020
Age: 23
Stats: .247/.366/.377, 4 HR, 15 RBIs
He's on the 60-day injured list with a heel injury, but he is out of his walking boot. His rehab may be transitioned to Florida soon, but the first step is a gradual progression of baseball activities to make sure he's back in the best position.
6. ANTHONY SOLOMETO (6)
Position: Left-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Low Class A Bradenton
Acquired: Pirates' second-round pick, 2021
Age: 19
Stats: 1-0, 3.26 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 23 K, 5 BB
Solometo was sent back to the Florida Complex League though it's merely a paper move according to a source from within the organization. He had his best outing in his career his last time out going four innings and not allowing a hit, run or walk while striking out six.
7. BUBBA CHANDLER (9)
Position: Right-handed pitcher, infielder
Affiliate: Class Low A Bradenton
Acquired: Pirates' third-round pick, 2021
Age: 19
Pitching stats: 0-1, 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 31K, 13BB
Hitting stats: .229/.391/.571, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs
Chandler's first start on the mound was delayed a day due to the weather, but ended up being so-so. He notched four strikeouts, but a first inning two-run homer plus two more runs allowed were the first earned runs he's given up in his career.
8. JI-HWAN BAE (7)
Position: Utility
Affiliate: Class AAA Indianapolis
Acquired: International free agent, 2018
Age: 22
Stats: .295/.363/.451, 8 HRs, 39 RBIs
Bae is right there when it comes to who's next to be called up when the Pirates are in need. The question with him is when will he be added to the 40 man roster? He's Rule 5 eligible this winter, but his versatility and the Pirates' lack of a true leadoff hitter could create an opportunity in the majors before the year is through.
9. ENDY RODRIGUEZ (9)
Position: Catcher, Utility
Affiliate: High Class A Greensboro
Acquired: Trade with Mets/Padres, 2021
Age: 22
Stats: .272/.362/.474, 9 HRs, 42 RBIs
Eight of Rodriguez's fourteen hits in July have been for extra bases which bodes well for finding consistency with his swing and power. He does have the positional flexibility, especially at catcher, to stay on the radar for a while, perhaps even after this list is shaken up after the draft.
10. JARED JONES (10)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Class High A Greensboro
Acquired: Pirates' second-round pick, 2020
Age: 21
Stats: 3-4, 4.80 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 102 Ks, 36 BBs
The 10th spot on these lists has definitely been the most fluid, with Jones in particular sliding in and out of the top 10s. The results aren't there yet, but Greensboro is as rough a pitching environment as you're going to find on the east coast. His future is going to be determined once he gets to Altoona. There, he could emerge as a legitimate starter or a reliever.
HONORABLE MENTION
Luis Ortiz has some of the best raw stuff in the organization though the results haven't quite added up yet. He went four innings Saturday before being removed with a blister. He was nearly unhittable allowing only three hits while striking out six including an immaculate inning - nine pitches and nine strikes - and walking none.
