by Don Laible
The Pittsburgh Pirates know what a “baseball unicorn” they have in Konnor Griffin.
Recently, the Pirates announced their minor league organizational award winners. By no surprise to most observers of the club, Griffin was selected for two awards – the Honus Wagner Player of the Year and the Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year.
Griffin, 19, began his first full season in the Pirates’ developmental system this past April with the Bradenton Marauders. He would be promoted twice during his rookie campaign, leaving Bradenton and the Florida State League for Greensboro, N.C, and the Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League, before completing the season at the Double-A level with the Altoona Curve.
From what Griffin displayed this past season, he is on a fast track to the big leagues. His statistics for 2025 are stunning—65 stolen bases, 161 hits, 94 RBIs, and a .333 batting average. There is little wonder why Baseball America and MLB Pipeline rank Griffin as the No. 1 prospect in the game.
In the field, Griffin committed just seven errors in 757 innings (89 games) at all three levels of competition that he participated in. Primarily a shortstop, Griffin was tried in centerfield. In the outfield, Griffin, Baseball America’s Player of the Year, had no errors in 129 innings of work.
During a recent Zoom with reporters who cover the Pirates regularly, Griffin spoke about winning the prestigious organizational awards and his outlook for the upcoming 2026 season.
“I put a lot of work in last season. Every day in camp I was working with Truby (Pirates coach Chris Truby) taking ground balls. I didn’t know what to expect heading into big league camp. Every day I faced new challenges. I feel that I really grew as a player.”
There’s no doubt that Griffin was going to be in a “fishbowl” upon entering camp. When you’re the club’s top draft selection (9th overall), eyeballs are going to be focused on you. Griffin didn’t disappoint. On the field, he performed well. While wearing a Marauders uniform, Griffin engaged with fans and made a genuine effort to represent himself and the Pirates’ organization in the most honorable way. For a 19-year-old, the Pirates’ future shortstop displayed the maturity of someone years older.
“The Pirates let me be myself,” says Griffin, who also had his first taste of postseason play this past September with Altoona.
In recent weeks, Griffin has been back in Bradenton working out at Pirate City. He has a schedule of honing his skills and preparing his body for next season – six days a week. A growing number of media members and fans believe Griffin could be called up to Pittsburgh at some point in 2026.
His excitement for his future is obvious. Hitting the ground running in February when training camp opens can’t come soon enough. Griffin earned an education on the business side of the game in 2025, when being moved up the Pirates’ chain of affiliates. He tells of driving across the country three times to reach the cities where the Pirates had him play. Having great teammates made the lengthy drives much more manageable.
Pirates’ manager Don Kelly, who made a recent visit to Pirate City, draws high praise from Griffin, whom he credits for making his first season with the organization memorable.
“(Kelly) is awesome. He was always chatting up with me in the dugout and always checking in on me. He wants to make sure that I keep putting in the work.”
The announcement of Griffin’s organizational awards came from Pirates’ Director of Coaching and Player Development Michael Chernow.
The Pirates open their Grapefruit League schedule on the road against the Baltimore Orioles on February 21 in Sarasota. The following day, Sunday, February 22, the Pirates host the Tampa Bay Rays at LECOM Park for their home opener.
Single-game tickets for the spring training season will go on sale at the LECOM Park box office on January 9.