NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The best prospect in the Major Leagues has arrived.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday that shortstop Konnor Griffin will make his major league debut in the team’s home opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Griffin, who will turn 20 on April 24, was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft out of Jackson High School in Flowood, Mississippi.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, on March 1, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Image Images)
Griffin began his minor league career in 2025, spending 50 games in Low-A (Bradenton), 51 games in High-A (Greensboro) and finishing with 21 games in Double-A (Altoona). In 122 minor league games, Griffin hit .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases.
The Mississippi native impressed in spring training this year, hitting four home runs in 16 games.
Despite his impressive performance in spring training, the Pirates optioned Griffin to Triple-A to begin the season. However, Griffin continued to hit with seven hits in 16 at-bats and three stolen bases, prompting the team to call him up.
CARDINALS’ MASYN WINN INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT AFTER DELIVERING A WINNING BIT AGAINST THE METS
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin returns to the dugout during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, on March 1, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Image Images)
If Griffin stays on the team for the rest of the season and plays well, the Pirates can be rewarded. In 2022, the Prospect Promotion Incentive was established to discourage manipulation of service time so that teams did not have the best prospects in the minors.
If the top prospect accumulates a full year of service time and wins Rookie of the Year or finishes in the top three in MVP/Cy Young voting, the team gets an extra pick at the end of the first round.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin bats during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on March 21, 2026. (Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images)
The Atlanta Braves got a compensatory pick when catcher Drake Baldwin won the National League Rookie of the Year award last season. The Pirates hope Griffin will make an instant impact in hopes that it can result in an additional first-round pick for them.
The Pirates (3-3) play the Orioles (3-3) on Friday at 4:12 pm ET.
