The Pittsburgh Pirates have been building something quietly but purposefully over the last couple of seasons, and now it’s starting to look like the tide is turning in a big way. At the heart of that momentum shift is Paul Skenes - the flamethrowing right-hander who’s already living up to the hype and then some.
Two seasons into his big-league career, Skenes has already claimed a National League Cy Young Award and posted a jaw-dropping 1.96 ERA over 55 starts. That’s not just good - that’s franchise-anchoring, rotation-defining dominance.
But here’s the thing: Skenes might not be the only ace-in-the-making in Pittsburgh’s system. Enter Bubba Chandler - a name Pirates fans are going to want to get familiar with fast.
The 23-year-old right-hander has already made his MLB debut, and according to ESPN, he could be next in line to bring home some serious hardware. Chandler is projected to win the NL Rookie of the Year in 2026 - the same award Skenes captured in 2024 - and if that prediction pans out, Pittsburgh could be looking at one of the most exciting young pitching duos in baseball.
Let’s break down why there’s so much buzz around Chandler.
Last season, Chandler showed flashes of what he could become. Sure, there was a rough outing against the Brewers where he got tagged for nine earned runs - a forgettable game by any standard.
But outside of that blemish, he was lights out. In fact, if you take away his debut - which was likely fueled by nerves more than anything else - Chandler’s ERA sits at an eye-popping 1.57.
That’s not just promising; that’s elite territory.
The sample size is still small, and there’s no doubt Chandler will have his share of growing pains. But the tools are all there: a live arm, a competitive edge, and the kind of poise you want from a young starter trying to stick in the bigs. If he can carry that momentum into 2026, he’s got a real shot to make good on those Rookie of the Year projections.
Even if Chandler doesn’t quite reach the Cy Young-level heights Skenes hit in 2025 - when he posted a 1.97 ERA over 32 starts - he doesn’t have to. Just being in that ballpark would be a massive win for the Pirates, especially considering both pitchers are still in their pre-arbitration years.
That’s not just talent - that’s cost-controlled, high-ceiling talent. The kind that gives front offices flexibility and gives fanbases hope.
Chandler enters 2026 as ESPN’s No. 12 overall prospect, and if his development continues on this trajectory, the Pirates could be staring at a rotation led by two of the most exciting young arms in the game. For a franchise that’s been searching for sustained success, that’s the kind of foundation you can build around.
Skenes has already shown what’s possible. Now, Chandler has a chance to follow in those footsteps - and if he does, the Pirates’ rebuild might be closer to a breakthrough than anyone expected.