MLB No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin improves chances of making the Opening Day roster with huge game against the Boston Red Sox
The 19-year-old phenom is making a case to start the 2026 season in the Majors, which would put Griffin, the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, in special company.
He moved up from Low-A to the Pirates’ Double-A team a season ago, but played in just 122 career minor league games with 563 plate appearances (PAs), slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases. As Baseball America recently reportedamong the 95 position players who have made a Major League roster before their 21st birthday since 1985: “They averaged 303 MiLB games and 1,294 PAs.”
According to Baseball America, Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Bryce Harper and Juan Soto are the only players as young as Griffin and with comparable minor league experience (in terms of games played and at-bats) to reach the majors during that span, and each is considered among the best in their respective generations.
According to MLB.comNick Gonzalez, entering his fourth season in the major leagues, is the Pirates’ projected starting shortstop. In 2025, he slashed .260/.299/.362 while playing primarily at second base, where he received 87.5 percent of his starts.
During the offseason, the team acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade that also netted Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum, who, like Griffin, attended high school at Jackson Prep in Flowood, Mississippi.
Gonzalez could be the odd man out if Griffin continues to impress. It’s only a matter of time before the rising star gets his chance, and he might be able to elevate a Pirates lineup that has the potential to be much better than the poor 2025 version.
Pittsburgh ranked last in the majors in runs scored (3.6 per game) and home runs (117) while posting the team’s third-worst batting average a season ago (.231), but the team added strength to the lineup with Lowe, 2025 All-Star outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and two-time Silver slugger Marcell Ozuna, the team’s projected designated hitter.
With reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes anchoring the Pirates’ rotation, they need a lineup that can provide consistent support.
Griffin might give Pittsburgh more of an edge, and he’ll have to continue to prove himself for manager Don Kelly the rest of spring training to get him the big promotion to start the regular season.
If not now, it will be soon enough.
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