Pirates’ top prospect Konnor Griffin rising fast through minors
Updated: 10:31 PM EDT Sep 4, 2025
The Pirates’ farm system is packed with talent, and Konnor Griffin is the next name you need to know. Pittsburgh’s top pick in the 2024 draft is flying through the minor leagues.Griffin, a 19-year-old shortstop, has been promoted twice in about two months. He’s now at Double-A Altoona, and baseball’s top prospect shows no signs of slowing down as he keeps working toward the major leagues.”I didn’t really know what to expect this first year,” Griffin told Pittsburgh’s Action Sports. “I wanted to get to High-A as quick as I could. And then once I got there and got comfortable, started playing well, I was like, maybe by the end of the year or something, maybe in September, get a few weeks in Altoona. And before I knew it, I got the call and now I’m here.”One-on-one with Konnor Griffin: Watch the full video of our interview with the Pirates prospect in the video player aboveSince being selected No. 9 overall in 2024, Griffin has been invited to spring training, played in the All-Star Futures Game, and suited up for Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro — where he stole 33 bases in 51 games — and now, the Altoona Curve.”As you move levels, the game doesn’t change. Same game, same baseball,” Griffin said. “Just continue to be yourself, do what you do, show up early, get your work in and everything will work out like it should.”And it has worked out. Griffin has been turning heads since Little League.”I think when I was 12 or 13, I started getting some college offers, so I was like, OK, this might be a real deal. It persuaded me to keep on working hard,” he said. “I ended up getting drafted in high school and skipping college, so it really came quick.”For now, Griffin just plans to be where his feet are. But does he ever let his mind wander to when he might get the call up to PNC Park?”It’s probably something I think about every day. Just making my debut, I think, is a dream for every player, so I think about it quite often,” Griffin said. “It’s kind of hard not to when you’re two hours from Pittsburgh, you know? They’re right around the corner.”But I know it’s going to happen when I’m supposed to be there, and I’m just going to continue to be in the minor leagues. I know I still got a long way to go, I got a lot to work on, so that’s what I’ll keep doing.”Better get to Altoona soon if you want to watch Griffin this season. At this rate, he could be in Pittsburgh by early next year.
ALTOONA, Pa. —
The Pirates’ farm system is packed with talent, and Konnor Griffin is the next name you need to know. Pittsburgh’s top pick in the 2024 draft is flying through the minor leagues.
Griffin, a 19-year-old shortstop, has been promoted twice in about two months. He’s now at Double-A Altoona, and baseball’s top prospect shows no signs of slowing down as he keeps working toward the major leagues.
“I didn’t really know what to expect this first year,” Griffin told Pittsburgh’s Action Sports. “I wanted to get to High-A as quick as I could. And then once I got there and got comfortable, started playing well, I was like, maybe by the end of the year or something, maybe in September, get a few weeks in Altoona. And before I knew it, I got the call and now I’m here.”
One-on-one with Konnor Griffin: Watch the full video of our interview with the Pirates prospect in the video player above
Since being selected No. 9 overall in 2024, Griffin has been invited to spring training, played in the All-Star Futures Game, and suited up for Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro — where he stole 33 bases in 51 games — and now, the Altoona Curve.
“As you move levels, the game doesn’t change. Same game, same baseball,” Griffin said. “Just continue to be yourself, do what you do, show up early, get your work in and everything will work out like it should.”
And it has worked out. Griffin has been turning heads since Little League.
“I think when I was 12 or 13, I started getting some college offers, so I was like, OK, this might be a real deal. It persuaded me to keep on working hard,” he said. “I ended up getting drafted in high school and skipping college, so it really came quick.”
For now, Griffin just plans to be where his feet are. But does he ever let his mind wander to when he might get the call up to PNC Park?
“It’s probably something I think about every day. Just making my debut, I think, is a dream for every player, so I think about it quite often,” Griffin said. “It’s kind of hard not to when you’re two hours from Pittsburgh, you know? They’re right around the corner.
“But I know it’s going to happen when I’m supposed to be there, and I’m just going to continue to be in the minor leagues. I know I still got a long way to go, I got a lot to work on, so that’s what I’ll keep doing.”
Better get to Altoona soon if you want to watch Griffin this season. At this rate, he could be in Pittsburgh by early next year.