Henry Davis didn’t have to describe what it was like to be on the receiving end of Bubba Chandler’s fastballs in his major-league debut.

The Pittsburgh Pirates catcher simply lifted his left index finger, which was covered in a thick black Coban wrap.

Despite a dip in the cold tub after Friday’s 9-0 win over the Colorado Rockies, Davis couldn’t bend his finger Saturday it was so swollen from catching Chandler’s heater that averaged 98.4 mph and twice touched triple digits.

“They’re both throwing absolute smoke and landing their breaking balls at will,” Davis said of Braxton Ashcraft and Chandler’s combined shutout. “Nine consecutive innings of 100 will do that. Our guys throw really hard. It’s pretty often, maybe not to this extent. That means a lot of balls hit the glove and not a lot hit the bat. Good day.”

Davis was behind the dish for Chandler’s historic outing, when the 22-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher to throw four scoreless innings for a save in his MLB debut.

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That Chandler’s command was an issue at Triple-A Indianapolis, Davis chalked up to baseball’s top pitching prospect putting pressure on himself to force the Pirates to give him a promotion.

“Obviously, he got four clean ones on a pretty efficient pitch count,” Davis said. “That’s just in his control. I think you saw last night a pretty big moment and a lot of adrenaline, and he was putting the ball where he wanted. … He’s high-octane for sure, obviously stuff-wise and as a competitor, too. Just thrived in the moment.”

Ashcraft, also a rookie, recorded six strikeouts in five scoreless innings. He threw 28 four-seamers at an average of 96.8 mph, touching 97.6, and three sinkers at an average of 96.4 mph and touching 96.8. Round those numbers, and the Pirates pitchers were playing with fire.

“I think almost every fastball was 97 and up,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “With Bubba hitting triple digits multiple times, that is a lot of heat. It’s really good that (Davis has) a rapport with those guys. He’s caught them before and did a real nice job with both of them.”

Both are products of the Pirates’ 2021 MLB Draft class, when Davis was taken No. 1 overall and Chandler was chosen in the third round. They were roommates early in their career but had never been teammates until Chandler was called up to Indianapolis last summer. The duo discussed being battery mates for Chandler’s debut and looked forward to the fun.

“I never shook him once. and I don’t really plan on shaking him off,” Chandler said. “What he puts in each day, for the fans, the media, that guy gives it his all. It’s something pitchers really like. Our job is hard enough, to go out there and you know, try to throw a little white ball and place it in an inch-big zone. Just having the comfort of Hank, whatever he puts down, you know there’s thought behind it and it’s the right pitch.”

Chandler followed Davis’ direction during the 40-pitch outing, especially when he decided to mix up the pitch calls after Orlando Arcia drilled a 1-1 fastball for a double off the left-field fence to start the sixth inning. Chandler threw nine sliders, five changeups and five curveballs, getting the right-handed Arcia swinging at a changeup in the dirt for a strikeout to end the eighth.

“When Arcia turned on it, it’s pretty clear that they said, ‘It’s this kid’s debut. He’s throwing 100. Get the bat head out on it,’ ” Davis said. “So we threw a little bit more offspeed. … You can’t hit both, so I tried to call the other one, I guess.”

Chandler was able to maintain his velocity, hitting 100 on the nose on the final pitch to get Warming Bernabel to fly out to center and end the game. Chandler wants his last pitch to have higher velocity than his first and takes pride in his ability to increase velocity — even if it leaves his catcher with a finger so swollen he can’t bend it.

“I think it’s great,” Davis said. “It’s something we all strive to do every day: Be grateful you get to play and leave it out there. That’s what he did.”

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