Mack's Top Draft Prospects - #6 - RHP - Bubba Chandler

 

Bubba Chandler

Mack's spin - 

Chandler is seriously committed to quarterback at Clemson University.

They also have another large baseball prospect (OF Will Taylor) committed to QB there next season.

THis is going to e interesting to see how this plays out.

 

RHP      6-2     177     North Oconee HS (GA) 

 

5-6-21 - MLB - 5-6 Mock Draft-

 

9. Angels: Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee HS (Bogart, Ga.)

 

If there's going to be a wild-card selection in the top 10, most clubs believe it will come from the Angels, who had similar rumors swirling around them last June before making a chalk pick with Reid Detmers at No. 10. They're repeatedly linked to Chandler, the best two-way prospect in the Draft but more of a consensus late first-rounder. 

 

4-29-21 - Baseball Prospect Report mock 3.0 -

 

18. St. Louis Cardinals: Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee (Ga.) HS

 

Chandler is a football and baseball commit to Clemson, but he likely won’t make it to campus. He is a two-way player who most scouts believe is better suited on the mound long-term. He has a mid-90s fastball. 

 

4-29-21 - Baseball Prospect Report mock 3.0 -

 

18. St. Louis Cardinals: Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee (Ga.) HS

 

Chandler is a football and baseball commit to Clemson, but he likely won’t make it to campus. He is a two-way player who most scouts believe is better suited on the mound long-term. He has a mid-90s fastball.

  

4-26-21 - mlb.com mock draft -

 

19) Blue Jays: Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee HS (Ga.)

 

Chandler’s become one of the most fascinating players in this Draft. Most feel he belongs on the mound, but maybe there’s a team willing to let him hit to feel things out. 

 

4-14-21 - MLB

 

Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee HS (Bogart, Ga.)

 

A consensus third-round talent coming into 2021, Chandler offered plenty of intrigue as a projectable prep right-hander who was also a legitimate prospect as a shortstop as well as a Clemson quarterback recruit. All of those things are still true, but his projection has become closer to reality since he blossomed into the best two-way prospect in the Draft and a possible first-rounder. What was an 88-93 mph fastball is now ranging from 92-97 mph, he has added more power to a quality curveball and an effective slider, and he also shows trust in his changeup. As a position player, he’s a switch-hitter with plus raw power, solid speed and shortstop defense and obviously well-above-average arm strength. 

 

3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -

 

49. RHP Bubba Chandler | School: North Oconee HS, GA | Commit: Clemson | B / T: R / R | Ht: 6’3 | Wt: 191lbs | Age: 18.10

 

Chandler is a fantastic athlete with loads of physical and game projection. A QB recruit to Clemson for Football and Baseball, which may bring out a tough sign come draft day due to that. Also a pretty good hitter at the prep level, although that’s not his future. The Fastball works 92-95 MPH with a filthy swing and miss Slider that grades Plus. Also mixing in a Changeup that generally sits 82-84 MPH. The stuff is good and will only get better is a team can sway him away from Clemson and get him full time on the mound. 

 

3-29-21 - Lookout Landing -

 

The 2021 MLB Draft is shaping up to be a rather odd class in terms of college talent. There looks to be plenty of pretty good college arms available, but it’s a dreadful class in terms of college bats. In turn, big league clubs may elect to reach for higher upside prep talent early in the draft this year than usual. Guys like Bubba Chandler and several other high-profile high schoolers may hear their names called early. Seattle is no stranger to Chandler, but the question will certainly be whether the team feels comfortable to jump on a prep righty in the first round. He’s a unique talent with maybe the biggest upside of any prep arm in the entire class. If Seattle doesn’t jump on him in round one, I feel pretty confident somebody will. 

 

3-10-21 - draft risers -

 

Bubba Chandler, RHP, North Oconee HS, Bogart, Ga. (No. 86)

 

Chandler entered the season as one of the more exciting athletes in a 2021 prep class overflowing with athleticism. A standout quarterback who’s also a two-way player on the diamond, some scouts are comparing Chandler to Cardinals’ 2020 second-rounder Masyn Winn—but instead of 5-foot-11, Chandler stands 6-foot-2.

 

This spring scouts have seen Chandler up to 97 mph with a fastball that gets 70-grade future projections, while his curveball is getting labeled a potential 60-grade offering.

 

Given Chandler’s multi-sport and two-way status, there’s a lot of refinement to be had on the mound, but the natural talent is there for a club that is fine taking a high-upside project. The Padres and righthander Justin Lange come to mind from last season. Chandler isn’t nearly as raw as Lange was at the same time and is also a solid hitting prospect in his own right.

 

He’s an above-average runner whose athleticism translates to the field and allows him to be a solid, high-energy defender at shortstop. He has a line drive stroke from both sides of the plate and plus raw power in the tank, and scouts have seen him put together impressive at-bats so far.

 

Chandler’s talent is rare, and enough teams seem to be in on him that a first-round selection wouldn’t be surprising. 

 

1-14-21  -  Baseball America

 

Bubba Chandler

 

North Oconee HS, Bogart, Ga. RHP

 

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 177 | B-T: B-R

Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Age At Draft: 18.8

 

Chandler is one of the more naturally athletic players in the 2021 prep class and is a two-way prospect on the baseball field as well as a high-level quarterback. A three-star pro-style QB according to 247 Sports, Chandler is committed to Clemson for both sports. Despite his focus not being primarily with baseball, scouts have been impressed with how advanced his game is on the baseball field. While he has legitimate two-way talent, his upside might be higher on the mound, where he hops to the rubber and throws an 89-93 mph fastball with a hammer breaking ball that could develop into a 70-grade offering. The pitch is in the mid 70s mostly, with above-average spin rates. He throws with a loose and fluid arm action and because of that and his athleticism, scouts think he’ll be a good strike thrower. As a hitter, Chandler hits from both sides of the plate with solid pop and a quick first step at shortstop and is also an above-average runner. Chandler attends North Oconee (Ga.) High, as did current Vanderbilt righty Kumar Rocker, so most area scouts have solid history with Chandler. Chandler’s future as a football player will certainly affect his signability, but teams are heavily interested in his upside as a pitcher.