Baseball's top prospect is coming to PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates have called up top prospect Konnor Griffin for Friday's home opener.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up the top prospect in baseball just in time for their home opener.
Shortstop Konnor Griffin will have his contract purchased from Triple-A Indianapolis and join the Pirates in time for Friday’s home opener against the Orioles at PNC Park.
The 19-year-old has gotten off to a hot start in the first week of the season; in five games, Griffin is 7 for 16 (.438) with three doubles and three stolen bases.
In contrast, Pittsburgh shortstop Jared Triolo is 3-for-20 (.150) with a double in five games.
The Pirates picked Griffin ninth overall in the 2024 draft after he graduated from Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood, Miss.
Griffin debuted professionally last season and ultimately earned Minor League Player of the Year honors. His .333/.415/.527 line, 21 home runs, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games included stints at both Class A levels before finishing the year with Double-A Altoona.
Recently, the Pittsburgh and Griffin have discussed a long-term contract likely to exceed the eight-year, $92 million deal that shortstop Colt Emerson signed with the Mariners earlier this week, the largest for a player without big-league experience.
On March 20, Griffin discussed his rapid rise after playing in the Spring Breakout game for Pirates prospects against the Tigers in Bradenton, Fla., before being reassigned to minor-league camp the next day. He hit four home runs in 46 plate appearances in Grapefruit League games.
“It’s been a crazy year,” Griffin said. “Last breakout game, it was my first spring training. Now I’ve had a full year under my belt. It’s been pretty cool. It’s been a fun journey. Hopefully, when I look back in a year, I’m doing the same thing, making big strides.”
Now called up, Griffin felt ready two weeks ago.
“It kind of shows me that I feel prepared,” Griffin said of what he learned this spring. “I don’t feel overmatched. I don’t feel sped up. I feel prepared. That’s what I’ve been training for over the last year. It’s led to this moment. I’m ready. I’m taking each game one game at a time. Just letting my skills take over.”
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