North Shore Nine

The Pirates had an early season surprise in Jared Jones in 2024. Though April he was 2-3 with a 3.18 ERA, through May 3-5 with a 3.55 ERA, both great considering his rise through Spring Training. He stayed strong though his early July start at 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA, before going on the IL and only making 6 more start in the season, 5 of which came in September. He ended the year with a very respectable 6-8 record and a 4.14 ERA with a 4.01 FIP and a WHIP of 1.192 He did this all while striking out 132 batters and walking only 39 over 121.2 innings pitched. Furthermore, he was 7th on the team in overall WAR at season end with 1.8 WAR. In any other season this would have been the talk and toast of Pittsburgh, if it wasn’t for a man named Paul Skenes.

Skenes burst on the scene with his first professional start on May 11th, and it was the beginning of a season that will end with accolades upon accolades. Month to month Skenes was near dominant in every start. He finished the season at 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA a 2.45 FIP a .947 WHP, with 170 strikeouts and 32 walks over 133 innings pitched. In a season were Jones look great, Skenes made him and every other pitching in the league look clandestine. He was quickly named Baseball America’s Rookie of the year a few days after the regular season ended, and it is not the last of the awards he is expected to win. Now, the question becomes, can the Pirates catch lighting in a bottle a 3rd time in two seasons next year with, Bubba Chandler.

Chandler became the Pirates top prospect by seasons end, in part thanks to the graduation of Jones and Skenes. But it was due in large part due to his incredible rise though the season, with amazing pitching performances. At seasons end MLB Pipeline had him as the Pirates #1 prospect, and the 15th best in all of MLB. Chandler split time this year between AA Altoona and had a late season promotion to AAA Indianapolis. In 80.1 innings for Altoona he went 6-7 with a 3.70 ERA striking out 94 while walking 26. After his promotion, he pitched 39.1 innings in Indy going 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA striking out 54 while walking 15. It is not very common to see a pitcher get better after being promoted to a harder league, yet that is exactly what Chandler did. Jones was inverse promoted in 2023, IE he spent less time in AA and more in AAA. However, in the case of Jones he was not able to pitcher nearly as well after his promotion to AAA. While this doesn’t mean a lot as every pitcher is different, expect Skenes who dominates everywhere he goes, it will give fans an increased amount of optimism.

If Chandler can come into Spring Training and do what Jones did last year. Giving the Pirates no choice but to start him in the rotation, then buckle up. All eyes will already be in Pittsburgh for the three headed monster of Skenes, Jones and Keller. Imagine Chandler being the 4th or 5th starter in that rotation to start the year. Especially if he could even just manage to do what Jones did last season, which again was very good. This does not even take into consideration the resurgence of Luis Oritz (3rd in overall WAR this season) and the steady presence of Bailey Falter in the rotation this season. Or the possibility that Mike Burrows might be ready to help after numerous setbacks. Or the return of fan favorite Johan Oviedo from a lost year. The Pirates might be lucky enough to have an embarrassment of riches to start next spring. If they can catch early lightning bottle again next year with Chandler, then Pirates fans might finally get what they have wanted for a long time, a deep run into the postseason.