Double-A Altoona received a couple fresh faces this week, adding to a talented roster pushing for a spot in the Eastern League playoffs.
Top prospect Konnor Griffin was bumped from High-A Greensboro to Altoona amidst a scorching start to his professional career. The 19-year-old became the youngest player to take the field in Curve history.
“He’s earned it,” general manager Ben Cherington said on the promotion. “We decided that whatever happened in Double-A the rest of the way would be better for him than finishing out the year in High-A.”
Griffin is rated as the top prospect in the league by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America a little over a year after the Pirates took him with the ninth pick in the 2024 draft.
Combined between three minor-league levels this season, Griffin carries a stellar .329/.410/.512 batting line with 21 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 76 RBI and 63 steals in 107 games.
The Mississippi native has true five-tool potential and is flying through the minor-league ranks faster than anyone anticipated.
“I wouldn’t have had it,” Cherington said when asked if he expected Griffin to reach Altoona so quickly. “ I wouldn’t have guessed it. It wouldn’t have shocked me. I wouldn’t have put my money on it.”
Though the last 13 months or so have been life-changing for Griffin – going from a high school senior to a millionaire and the game’s top prospect – Cherington is pleased with the talented shortstop has handled everything.
“That’s just based on – well, the performance is part of it – but by what we observe in his daily habits,” Cherington explained. “No matter what’s happened and how much attention he’s gotten, he’s showing up the next day ready to work, ready to be there for early work, high energy, caring about the right stuff, picking up teammates.”
In addition to Griffin, the Curve welcomed Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz for a couple games over the weekend. Cruz, who is on the seven-day concussion injured list, was sent to Altoona for a minor-league rehab assignment.
With Griffin and Cruz, the Curve had some star power in the lineup. In addition to the organization’s top prospect and the Pirates starting center fielder, 2022 first-round pick Termarr Johnson manned second base and is currently riding a 10-game on-base streak.
“I understand there’s not as much loud attention around him as there is others, but we believe it’s been a really good season…Excited about where he’s at,” Cherington said of Johnson.
Cruz is a big piece of the Pirates, both this year and down the road. He’s as talented as any player in the league given his speed, power and arm strength. But he has yet to put it all together in the big leagues despite pacing the Pirates in home runs and stolen bases.
The Pirates need to take a major step forward offensively next season and more consistency from Cruz would go a long way in doing that.
The eventual of additions of Johnson and Griffin – the latter in particular – could also provide necessary help.
Given where they are at this stage of their respective careers, Johnson could end the season in Triple-A Indianapolis. Griffin probably finishes the year in Altoona, but based off how quickly he’s climbed so far, it’s entirely possible he makes his MLB debut as a 20-year-old shortstop for the Pirates in 2026.
How much Griffin factors into the Pirates’ plans to address shortstop this offseason should be telling of when they think the uber prospect could arrive. Given how desperate the need is for help offensively, fast-tracking him to Pittsburgh wouldn’t necessarily be a bad idea. But the Pirates could be a bit more cautious than some might hope.
“With guys like Konnor, he’s gonna tell us to some degree over time ‘when’ and ‘if’ and ‘how’ how our decisions should start to be informed by him,” said Cherington. “I don’t know if we’re quite at that point this offseason, but we’ll get there sooner rather than later.”
Seeing three notable names atop the Curve’s lineup in Cruz, Griffin and Johnson – though only for a weekend – at least offered a glimpse of a future the Pirates are hoping one day comes to fruition.