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The Pittsburgh Pirates might not be having a great season, but rookie pitcher Bubba Chandler is giving fans a reason to smile. He has only just started his big-league career and he is already doing things no one has ever done before.
In his very first outing he picked up a save. In his second, which came on Wednesday night, he earned his first win. That alone is impressive for a rookie, but the way he has done it makes it even more special.
Since pitch tracking began in 1988, no pitcher has matched Chandler’s exact start. He has thrown at least four scoreless innings in each of his first two games. He has done that while keeping his pitch count under 55 each time. And in both appearances, he walked away with either a win or a save. That mix of efficiency, stamina and results is almost unheard of, especially for someone just breaking into the league.
The Pirates have been careful with his workload, using him out of the bullpen to manage his innings. Even so, they have let him stay in games for long stretches, which shows the trust he has already earned.
Chandler’s athletic talent has never been in doubt. He could have been a college quarterback at Clemson, but instead, he chose baseball straight out of high school. That decision has paid off. He developed into one of the sport’s most exciting young pitching prospects before finally getting his call to the majors.
Now he is showing everyone why the Pirates have been so high on him. Two games in and he has already carved out a small piece of history. For a team looking for hope in another tough season, Bubba Chandler might be the bright spark they have been waiting for.