Clemson QB signee among the top rising MLB draft prospects

Chandler is coveted in two sports.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Thu Apr 08 14:40:03 GMT-04:00 2021

Bubba Chandler - Quarterback
TigerNet: (4.03)

Height: 6-4 Weight: 195 Hometown: Bogart, GA (North Oconee HS) Class: 2021

ESPN:

#25 QB-PP, #32 GA

Rivals:

#27 QB, #52 GA

24/7:

# 199 Overall, # 19 QB, # 17 GA

With Clemson's QB situation behind starter DJ Uiagalelei in flux, there are a few more eyes on the incoming class -- and one signee has seen his stock as a baseball prospect surge this spring.

North Oconee (Ga.)'s Bubba Chandler was tabbed as one of a couple prospects with "helium" in his potential draft spot by MLB.com's Pipeline podcast this week.

"Much like (former North Oconee pitcher) Kumar Rocker, Bubba Chandler is drawing first-round interest as a high school pitcher," MLB.com's Jim Callis said. "I love projectable high school pitchers. It's one of my favorite draft phylums -- and the thing with Bubba is he's no longer projectable. He was 88-93 (MPH) last summer and now he's 92-97 this spring. His curveball has got more power. His slider has got more power. He has feel for his changeup. And oh by the way, in case you don't like him as a pitcher -- he might be a borderline first-round pick as a shortstop because he's a switch-hitter with field-hit and power and speed. Obviously a plus-arm. Good instincts on defense."

Chandler was a late-riser as a QB prospect as well, surging to a 4-star rating last year around his commitment to the Tigers. He is rated the No. 11 pro-style QB out of the 2021 class by 247Sports.

"Oh by the way if that's not enough, he's also a Clemson recruit as a quarterback," Callis continued. "There's a lot going on with Bubba Chandler. We were aggressive when we ranked him 69th in our preseason list and that's probably 40 spots too low based on how he's pitched this spring. To me, he's one of the more fascinating players in the draft just with the two sports and the two-way potential and he's just a very, very talented athlete who can do a lot of things."

Fellow Clemson QB signee Will Taylor is also a top-100-rated prospect by MLB.com as an outfielder. Former 3-star QB Billy Wiles is set to enroll this summer as a preferred walk-on to complete the potential trio of enrollees.

Both Taylor and Chandler would play baseball for the Tigers as well if they do not go pro.

The MLB draft is later this year, set to go from July 11-13.