Pirates to promote Konnor Griffin, MLB's top-rated prospect, to major leagues

Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 2, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — The Pirates are promoting Konnor Griffin, the consensus top prospect in baseball, to the major leagues, the team announced Thursday, just in time for Friday’s home opener.

A 19-year-old shortstop, Griffin was selected ninth overall by the Pirates in the 2024 draft out of Jackson Prep High School in Jackson, Miss. Griffin was a part of four state championship teams during his high school career where he earned Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honors his senior year. He was the top-rated prep player in his draft class.

Griffin became a nationally known name in 2025, his first year as a professional. His journey began with Low-A Bradenton and ended with Double-A Altoona, where he helped the Curve secure a berth to the Eastern League playoffs.

Over 122 games last season, Griffin slashed .333/.415/.527 while tallying 23 doubles, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. He was also stellar in the field, winning an MiLB Golden Glove Award. That impressive production made him the game’s consensus prospect by the end of his 2025 campaign, a title he retained heading into this season.

Despite his young age, along with having yet to play a single contest above Double-A, the Pirates gave Griffin a chance to break camp with the major league club this spring. But after seeing inconsistencies at the plate — .171/.261/.488, 4 home runs, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts over 46 plate appearances — he was reassigned to minor league camp in the final weekend of Grapefruit League play. He started this season with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Griffin started this season with Triple-A Indianapolis. where he slashed .438/.571/.625 over five games. He now joins the Pirates, who are 3-3 on the young major league season.

No teenage hitter has started on opening day since Adrian Beltre in 1999, while no teenager hitter has debuted on opening day since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989, a trend the Pirates continued by opening Griffin in Triple-A. The last position player to make his major league debut as a teenager was Juan Soto in 2018.

Analysis

Age aside, this move shows something that was apparent early in the spring: Even as a 19-year-old who struggled some during spring training, the Pirates believe Griffin is their best available option at a very important position.

The move improves the Pirates’ defense, as they’ll have a natural shortstop playing the position (and one who won a minor league Gold Glove Award last season). And while they could keep Nick Gonzales at third after a solid start to the season, they could also use Jared Triolo and go from a left-side infield defense that had two players out of position to one with two Gold Glove candidates.

But the bigger factor in the timing is this: Because Griffin’s call-up happened so early in the season, the Pirates would be eligible for a Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) draft pick if Griffin stays with the team for the rest of the season and he either wins National League Rookie of the Year or finishes top three in MVP voting over the next three seasons. The Pirates would receive an extra draft pick after the first round.

The Pirates would not have remained PPI eligible if Griffin had signed an extension before his major league debut. The Post-Gazette reported last week the team and Griffin discussed an eight-year, $110 million contract with an option for a ninth year.

When the Pirates decided to start Griffin in Triple-A, general manager Ben Cherington said the Pirates “just ended up feeling like a little time in the minor leagues was what could be best for him to start the season.”

Thursday’s move showed that, for a special talent like Griffin, “a little time” could be as few as five games.