The Pittsburgh Pirates have the consensus number one prospect in all of baseball. Shortstop Konnor Griffin ranks as the best by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and FanGraphs. He is a special talent. The 2024 first-round pick showed that off last year. However, as we approach Opening Day, one thing is clear: the Pirates only have one legit option at shortstop. That is Konnor Griffin.

Konnor Griffin or Bust: Pirates Only Have One Option At Shortstop
Griffin Is Living Up To The Hype So Far

Griffin immediately delivered on his potential in his first look in pro ball. The shortstop batted .333/.415/.527 over 563 plate appearances. Griffin drilled 21 home runs and had a .194 isolated slugging percentage. He also stole a whopping 65 bases. The #1 prospect walked 8.9% of the time while having a healthy 21.7% strikeout rate. Overall, Griffin’s excellent production at the plate resulted in a .437 wOBA and 165 wRC+. He had the best wRC+, the third-best wOBA, and the sixth-best OPS among minor leaguers with at least 400 trips to the dish in 2025. The most impressive thing is that Griffin did this while starting the year at A-Ball Bradenton and ending the season at Double-A Altoona. His wRC+ also improved at each level.

Griffin is a five-tool player who excels in all five tools. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline do not see a single one of his five abilities as anything less than a 60-grade. His ‘worst’ tools are his hitting and fielding. Baseball America describes a batter with a 60-hit tool as a .275-.290 batter. They also describe Marcus Semien’s glove as a 60-grade fielder’s glove. He has the second-most defensive runs saved and outs above average at second base in the 2020s. Griffin’s power, speed, and arm strength are all 70-grade or better.

Nobody else but Griffin

However, the Pirates have backed themselves into a corner. They have to open the year (or extend) Konnor Griffin. They do not have another true shortstop on the roster. Jared Triolo has the most MLB experience at shortstop on the Pirates’ 40-man roster. He is a fine defender wherever he plays, but is the Pirates’ third baseman to open 2026. Third base is his best defensive position, even if he is a great defender at other positions as well.

Then there’s Nick Gonzales. Gonzales came up through the Pirates’ system primarily as a second baseman, where he has mixed defensive numbers. In 1695 innings, Gonzales has -16 defensive runs saved, but +5 outs above average. He does have 230 innings at shortstop in the Major Leagues, where DRS also sees him as a below-average glove (-1), but OAA still sees his defense as fine (+1). Gonzales also had just an 82 wRC+ in 2025

Lastly, the only Pirates non-roster invitee still in camp who isn’t Griffin is Alika Williams. Williams has shown excellent defense at shortstop and second base in both 2023 and 2024. However, Williams was the Pirates’ worst hitter in these two years. His 45 wRC+ in 208 plate appearances was the seventh lowest of any batter between these two years with at least 200 trips to the dish.

Not only is Griffin the Pirates’ best shortstop right now, but starting the year with him on the roster sets a tone for 2026. The Pirates were very active this offseason. They added nine new faces to the 40-man roster via trade or signing to Major League contracts. The Pirates can either take some of the wind out of their sails and start Gonzales at shortstop, with Williams as the backup shortstop, or set the tone and let everyone know they’re serious about this season by penciling Konnor Griffin into the Opening Day lineup.

Whether the Pirates extend Griffin or open the year with him on the Opening Day roster, Griffin isn’t just the best shortstop the Pirates have, but the only shortstop they have. Kicking the 2026 season off with Nick Gonzales or Alika Williams starting at shortstop would be a questionable decision at best, and a negligent decision at worst. Starting the year with Griffin on the Opening Day roster not only is the Bucs’ best option but also sets the tone for 2026.

Main Photo Credits: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images