The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, has been reassigned to minor league camp and will start his season in Triple-A Indianapolis.
This news comes after Griffin had a fairly strong outing in Bradenton in Spring Training and was trending towards being the Pirates’ big league shortstop come Opening Day. While he flashed great power at times in camp he did only hit .171 in Grapefruit League play. It appears that the Pirates’ organization are being cautious with his development and are giving him every opportunity to earn what could likely be a massive contract extension before he even turns 21-years-old.
Pirates manager Don Kelly announced the move on Saturday at LECOM Park and what led to the decision.
“You see a young kid who was maybe pressing just a little bit and trying really hard. Konnor Griffin the person is elite. Allowing him to go and get back to basics and being Konnor Griffin out there,” Kelly said. “We know there’s an elite talent level that comes with him. Just looking forward to him being in Pittsburgh whenever that time comes.”
Griffin of course impressed in his first year as a professional baseball player after being drafted ninth overall in 2024. Despite him starting in Low-A Bradenton he would finish 2025 in Double-A Altoona and received numerous end of season awards, to include a minor league All-Star nod and an invitation to participate in the Futures Game. Griffin slashed 333/.415/.527 in 122 minor league games last season.
Pittsburgh was similarly patient with Paul Skenes’ development, despite him seeming to be major league ready after less than a season spent in the majors. The club was certainly look out for their best interests in the respect that they have more control over a player’s future with the amount of service time they have spent in their minor league ranks. The club also has more control over what a long term extension could look like, and there have been reports that the Pirates and Griffin have already discussed what that contract could look like.
Griffin looks to be every bit of the promising prospect that the Pirates are hoping he will be, but it still might be in both parties best interest that he start his season in the minors. Some fans will be understandably disappointed with this move, especially considering that Griffin might already be the best option at shortstop for the Buccos. With that being said giving Griffin the opportunity to go out and be another prospect in Indianapolis will alleviate some of the pressure that he has undoubtedly been feeling. At just 19-years-old Griffin already has a huge magnifying glass on him as the best prospect in baseball and as possible savior for the Pirates. Having the opportunity to go to Indy will let Griffin slow things down and decompress and get back to playing more within himself with less outside pressure.
Make no mistake, Griffin should see big league action this season. With the way the team is currently constructed there really isn’t a solidified every day option at shortstop. Nick Gonzales has performed great in Spring Training, but of course has limited experience playing short at the major league level. Jared Triolo fits best there defensively but he figures to be the team’s third baseman. Nick Yorke is also in the mix but is much like the other candidates as he is largely unproven. If the Pirates can perform well as a team and Griffin can continue to excel he should find his way to Pittsburgh before season’s end.
Kelly described the decision to send Griffin down as difficult but maintained that he was impressed with his play and his character while he was in Bradenton.
“When you’re talking about a kid who came into big league camp playing shortstop for the first time … the talent that you see, I think he handled himself really well, professionally,” Kelly said. “We’ve talked about the maturity level as a 19-year-old in big league camp. Really excited about him being a Pirate and what that means for the future of Konnor Griffin and the Pirates.”
Griffin finishes his spring in Bradenton with a slash line of .171/.261/.749 with seven hits and four homers in 41 at bats.
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