For the second time in as many years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the game’s very best prospects. 

Paul Skenes was considered the top pitching prospect across the league after he was selected with the first pick in the 2023 draft out of LSU. At the start of last season, MLB Pipeline had the big right-hander ranked as the third-best prospect overall.

Pipeline and Baseball America both recently updated their respective 2025 top prospects list, and both had one thing in common – Konnor Griffin is at the top.

“It was cool. It just shows the hard work and success that I’ve had,” Griffin said on being named the game’s top prospect. “But that can change tomorrow. I just try to be who I am. I’m not trying to play the games for the rankings. I’m just trying to play to grow as a player and help my team win games. All the stuff that comes with it is awesome, but I try not to focus on it too much.”

The ranking is a product of Griffin’s fast start to his professional career after he was selected with the ninth pick in the 2024 draft. The 19-year-old started the season with the Bradenton Marauders, where he hit .338 with a .932 OPS, nine home runs, 36 and RBI and 26 steals in 50 games. He continued to roll after a promotion to High-A Greensboro, where he slashed .325/.432/.510 with seven more homers, 36 RBI and 33 steals.

His performance through the first two stops of his professional career led him to a third. The Pirates promoted Griffin to Double-A Altoona on Monday.

“There’s a lot going on, so I just try to be where my feet are and enjoy where I’m at,” he said after his third promotion. “Everybody’s been great. Everybody in the Pirates organization is awesome. They make it easy. It’s been a lot of moving parts. I’m just trying to be where I am.”

Though he’s now cemented himself as the game’s top prospect, it wasn’t all that long ago that Griffin was a high school player hoping to see his dream come true.

As he’s climbed the ladder and consistently wowed with his performance and standout tools, there’s been more and more attention on Griffin, as expected when you’re on top. But Griffin is unfazed by the extra eyes that have been on him.

“It’s definitely getting more and more as I move up but that comes with it,” he explained. “I remember wanting players’ autographs as a kid. So I try to really take the time for the fans and enjoy that because it’s a blessing.”

Griffin’s life is anything but ordinary. Most kids his age would be moving into their college dorm ready to start their sophomore year, not into a third apartment in a third different state in the span of five months.

But Griffin credits his support system for giving him a semblance of normalcy in a lifestyle that is anything but.

“Just my family and my girlfriend. They treat me like a normal human being and that’s what I love about them the most,” he explained. “They know that I play baseball but they don’t always see me as a baseball player. So it’s nice to be home or have them come visit because it’s just a normal lifestyle going on there.”

With his promotion to Altoona, there’s now just one more stop before Griffin reaches his ultimate goal of reaching the Pirates. Given how minor-league progression works, it can be easy to look ahead at what comes next, especially as each promotion gets him one step closer to the big leagues.

But Griffin, who comes across as exceptionally grounded for someone his age, feels like he’s done a pretty good job managing that.

“Yeah, it can,” Griffin said when asked if it can be hard to stay present. “But I know there’s time that comes with this career that I chose. I’m just gonna be in the moment and enjoy being where I’m at. Being with these guys, trying to go win the playoffs. Get home this offseason and take a little break and we’ll see where I’m at after that.”

Not much seems to faze Griffin, whether on the field or off it. In addition to his rare talent, it’s one of the reasons one of the game’s most promising prospects belongs to the Pirates for a second-straight year.