In this era of baseball, dual talents are extremely covetous commodities. If a player can both hit and pitch effectively, he becomes extremely valuable. Case in point, Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani. However, someone at North Oconee High in Bogart, Georgia, could eventually give Ohtani a run for his money. At only 18 years of age, Bubba Chandler is already proving his worth as a shortstop and pitcher. On the mound, he’s been known as a slightly above-average pitcher. At the plate, his offensive numbers are impressive. Chandler’s fielding is one of his best weapons. Let’s dive in further and see just what kind of arsenal he possesses.
Bubba Chandler MLB Draft Profile
Strengths
Bubba Chandler’s best attribute is his arm, which MLB.com grades a 70. Chandler has the ability to throw across the diamond with efficiency is a major advantage. Honing this skill could make him very valuable to defensive sparse teams. However, he needs to be a little more consistent with his fielding skills. They’re graded at a 55 clip, which is above average. Having to balance that against his massive arm will be key to his defense. Additionally, he can also use his speed, which could help if he’s asked to play such a traditionally tight position.
One other strength Chandler has comes from the mound. Last season, he posted a 1.00 ERA while striking out 14 batters in seven innings of work. His fastball seems to be his strongest pitch, graded at a 60. Based on scouting reports, Chandler consistently ranges between 92 and 95 mph. If he can exercise precise control over this, he could become immeasurably valuable on the mound for years to come. Furthermore, his other pitching arsenal is a decent curveball, graded at a 55. The rest of his pitching repertoire is average, yet there’s always room for improvement when he works his way through the farm system. With the potential for an explosive fastball, a team in dire need of pitching would be wise to consider him.
Weaknesses
Chandler’s biggest weakness appears to be in his bat. An overall hit grade of 45 does not bode well for the 18-year old. Despite this, his offensive statistics from last season may upend that a little bit. Chandler hit .419 with nine RBI with 11 runs scored. Getting on base did not seem to be an issue, having a .526 OBP and a 1.236 OPS. Aside from that, his power numbers need to be improved. His two home runs and three doubles don’t stand out in any way. But, with a power grade of 55, Chandler has the offensive potential that needs to be adjusted. If he can continue improving at the plate, he has all the makings of a very bright future.
MLB Player Comparison
The big-league player comparison that immediately comes to mind is Ohtani himself. With his dual role, he’s definitely proving the value of playing two positions on the field. He continues to make a case this season with 15 HR, 40 RBI at the plate, and a record of 1-1, 2.72 ERA on the mound). However, this sense of doubling up is not just in the American League. Atlanta Braves starter Huascar Ynoa and New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom are proving it in the National League. Those mentioned players might soon be introduced to another player of that caliber soon enough. The Clemson commit has the skills needed to become the next great dual-threat player. All he needs to do is keep progressing at the plate.
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