The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the most exciting players in baseball with unanimous NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, but may have another phenom making his way to the big leagues soon.

The Pirates drafted Skenes with the first-overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft and were quick to elevate him to the big leagues, with Skenes making his first start in May 2024. Pittsburgh may similarly give that same opportunity to shortstop Konnor Griffin, who was drafted with the ninth-overall pick in the 2024 draft and currently is ranked as the top prospect in baseball.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that the Pirates are “strongly considering” giving the 19-year-old the chance to earn their starting shortstop job for the 2026 season.

“The Pirates are strongly considering giving 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the consensus minor league player of the year in 2025, the opportunity to win their big league shortstop job, sources told ESPN,” Passan reported. “While the idea is by no means decided, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Griffin wowed scouts by hitting .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases in his first professional season after going to Pittsburgh with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft.

“The decision is complicated. The last teenage position player to debut in the big leagues was Juan Soto in 2018. A talent of Griffin’s caliber shouldn’t be rushed because a team wants to win now. Still, the mere thought of pushing Griffin to team up with a fresh batch of free agent bats and a front-line rotation is tantalizing enough to make the Pirates a team to watch this winter. The market is unlikely to kick into high gear until after Thanksgiving, sources said, but once it starts burbling, it’s going to be a busy offseason.”

Griffin is a slugger who displays five-tool potential, which helped him quickly jump through Pittsburgh’s farm system this season. The 19-year-old adapted and excelled in the minor leagues in his first professional season and has all the makings of a future All-Star, but his young age could deter the team from rushing him to the big leagues.

Despite the concerns with handing the starting shortstop position to Griffin, there is nothing wrong with the Pirates allowing him the chance to earn the starting spot himself this offseason.

More MLB: Pirates GM Has 9-Word Message on Paul Skenes Trade Rumors