Paul Skenes makes feelings clear on playing catch with prospect Bubba Chandler

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes recently opened up about playing catch with prospect Bubba Chandler as they gear up for the upcoming MLB season. Having made his major league debut last year, the Pittsburgh pitcher is aiming for new heights after winning the NL Rookie of the Year award last season.

In a recent interview with the media, Skenes shared a hilarious take on playing catch with teammate and prospect Bubba Chandler:

"Yeah, he's in a good spot physically, his stuff's really good. I'm really glad I play catch with a bullpen catcher every day because throwing with him, I don't know if his eyes aren't very good but he was jumping out of the way of everything. It was pissing me off. But his stuff's really good because I was catching him. I had no trouble, because I was a catcher and my eyes are good."

Bubba Chandler was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2021 MLB Draft for a signing bonus of $3 million. While he started as a two-way player playing at shortstop, he has been playing solely as a pitcher in the last two years.

In 2023, the Pirates drafted Paul Skenes, who has since exceeded everyone's expectations in the past two years. After just a few months in the minors, Skenes was promoted to the majors last year, where he took the league by storm. He ended the season as the NL Rookie of the Year, having made a strong impression over the course of the season.

As they prepare for the 2025 season with Chandler still looking to make his MLB debut, it is no surprise that the two youngsters have bonded well. They are both the same age and clearly have a healthy respect for each other.

Paul Skenes downplays extension talks with the Pirates

After his impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, fans are eager to see Paul Skenes sign a long-term contract with the team. Entering his second season in the majors, Skenes is under club control for five years and is not too worried about his long-term future. When asked about signing an extension with the club, he said:

“I haven’t heard a whole lot. I don't know, I haven't given it much thought.”

Skenes has struck a chord with fans after his meteoric rise in the MLB. However, there have been no extension talks so far, and Skenes is not too bothered by it.