In this installment of the Pirates Prospect Update series, we examine the efforts put forth by Konnor Griffin this season along with his subsequent achievements.

Griffin was selected ninth overall in the 2024 draft, opting out of his initial intention to enroll.

LSU

When he finished high school, the Pirates selected him. He became the first player not from college to be chosen that year, potentially possessing the finest set of skills within his draft class. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 225 pounds, his physique marks him as one of the most inherently athletic talents in the Pittsburgh organization.

In 2024, Griffin secured some playing time with the FCL Pirates in August. This year, however, he was picked up by Bradenton after completing spring training. Since joining Bradenton, he’s had an outstanding performance throughout the season. Currently, he boasts a batting average of .318 along with on-base and slugging percentages of .363 and .898 respectively. He has accumulated 50 hits, hit 8 home runs, and successfully stolen 17 bases. Defensively, Griffin has impressed everyone, demonstrating versatility across shortstop and center field with consistently good outcomes. His remarkable speed and range have significantly contributed to his development as a defensive player during his debut professional season.


In just May, Griffin is crushing it! Throughout the month, his batting average stands at an impressive .386, accumulating 27 hits, including 2 home runs, and managing 6 stolen bases, resulting in a robust .934 OPS. Over this period, he maintained a remarkable nine-game hit streak as well. At present, he boasts more multi-hit games than games without any hits.

Considering this is just his debut year in professional baseball, Griffin still has many stages to go through before making it to the Majors, which might happen around 2028. Nonetheless, it could already be evident that Griffin possesses the potential to become a cornerstone player for an MLB team. Throughout the season, he has consistently outperformed his peers, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to expect him getting promoted to High-A Greensboro by the end of the season, particularly given how well he’s been performing recently.

Konnor Griffin ranks second among the Pirates’ prospects and holds the 37th spot on the list of top players in baseball.