Bubba Chandler Shines in Historic MLB Debut for Pirates
When you talk about memorable baseball debuts, Bubba Chandler’s first night on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates deserves to be right at the top. At just 22 years old, Chandler had been labeled as one of the most exciting pitching prospects in the game even before stepping onto a major league field. And on Friday night, in front of a home crowd, he showed exactly why.
Chandler entered the game out of the bullpen, and what followed was nothing short of history. In his first big-league appearance, he became the very first pitcher since saves were officially tracked in 1969 to throw four scoreless innings and earn a save in his debut. Think about that for a moment — more than 50 years of baseball history, and no one had ever done what Chandler did until now. He needed only 40 pitches to grab those 12 outs, allowing just two hits and striking out three, all while helping the Pirates secure a commanding 9-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
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The night didn’t start without a little drama. The first batter Chandler faced, Orlando Arcia, ripped a double. That could have rattled anyone, especially a rookie in his first outing, but Chandler steadied himself quickly. He struck out Ryan Ritter and Mickey Moniak with blazing fastballs that touched 99.9 and 100.4 miles per hour — the fastest strikeout pitches by a Pirate all season. By the time he walked off the field, he had completely shifted the momentum back in Pittsburgh’s favor.
After the game, Chandler laughed as he remembered that first hit. He admitted, “Welcome to the show, huh. I thought I made a good pitch, but he hit it hard. Didn’t want to give up a homer right away, but after that, my emotions slowed down and it was great.” It was clear the nerves turned quickly into confidence.
What makes this story even more compelling is Chandler’s own honesty about the journey. He said he was frustrated that it took so long for him to be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where his performances were consistently strong. But once the opportunity came, he made the most of it. “There’s not a lot of 22-year-old kids that get to do this,” he said. “I’m grateful. Now I’m here. Don’t care about the wait anymore.”
His arrival adds even more firepower to a young Pirates pitching staff that already features last year’s NL Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes. Together, they represent the future of a franchise that has been steadily building around homegrown arms.
On a night when veteran Andrew McCutchen drove in four runs and the Pirates’ offense was firing, Chandler’s debut stood out as the true headline. It wasn’t just about one game — it was about the promise of what’s to come. If this is how his major league career begins, fans in Pittsburgh may have just witnessed the start of something very special.
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