Before he put on a Pirates uniform and stepped into the batter’s box during a spring training game, Konnor Griffin had already generated plenty of buzz not only in Pittsburgh, but also around the country.

Despite limited experience in the minors, the 19-year-old quickly established himself as the No. 1 prospect in baseball. Griffin is sitting atop the prospect rankings for The Athletic and FanGraphs, and he has been described as a “freaky five-tool superstar.”

With so much hype surrounding the 6-3, 222-pound shortstop, Pirates fans have been pushing for Griffin to speed through the typical process and start the 2026 season on the main roster. He could become the first teenager to land on an Opening Day roster since Ken Griffey Jr. made his MLB debut in 1989.

So, here’s the big question: Should Griffin be the Pirates’ starting shortstop on Day 1? Let’s break down both sides of the argument.

Why Konnor Griffin will be on Pirates’ Opening Day roster

It isn’t difficult to explain why Pittsburgh is seriously considering starting Griffin at shortstop. There is no one else on the roster with his combination of skills at the position, and he should only get better with more opportunities at the highest level.

Last year, Griffin had a slash line of .338/.396/.536 in Low A. He then posted a line of .325/.432/.510 in High A, and in 21 games with the Altoona Curve (Double A), Griffin hit .337/.418/.542. In spring training, he has shown off his power, blasting multiple home runs out of the stadium.

The Pirates desperately need that kind of bat in the middle of the lineup. In 2025, they finished last in the league in runs, home runs, slugging percentage and OPS. Putting the numbers aside, Griffin is capable of electrifying a fan base that hasn’t watched a playoff game since 2015.

Griffin has also impressed the organization off the field, smoothly handling an incredible amount of attention early in his career. When asked during an interview on “Foul Territory” why he should be the starter, Griffin dismissed any concerns about his age.

“I would just say because I’m prepared,” Griffin said. “I’ve been training for this for my whole life. … I feel confident with myself. I feel confident with my preparation, how I go about the day, how I’m handling things. I’m gonna go out there — I’m gonna bring a lot of energy.”

Why Konnor Griffin won’t be on Pirates’ Opening Day roster

Griffin has excelled at stops in Low A, High A and Double A, but it’s worth noting that he only had 98 plate appearances with the Curve last year. He still has not played a single game for the Indianapolis Indians (Triple A).

And while Griffin has already produced some impressive highlights during spring training action, he is hitting just .194 with 10 strikeouts. He has only drawn two walks, and opposing pitchers know that they can get him to swing at balls outside of the strike zone.

The front office certainly views Griffin as another franchise cornerstone alongside Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes, but sending him to Indianapolis could be a wise move. That would prevent the possibility of an ugly scenario in which Griffin initially struggles and has to go up and down throughout the season.

“We believe we have a responsibility as an organization with Konnor,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said earlier this month. “He’s got a chance to have a really good, long career. It’s our job to do everything we can to support him to be in the best spot possible to do that.

“Obviously we want to try and marry that up with helping the Pirates win as many games as possible, too. That will continue to guide us.”

The final prediction . . .

If he explodes during the final stretch of spring training, perhaps the Pirates will launch the Griffin era as soon as possible. The bet here, though, is that Pittsburgh will proceed with caution and give Griffin more time to grow in the minors.

The Pirates will likely rely on a more experienced player like Nick Gonzales at the start of the 2026 season, but rest assured, it is only a matter of time before Griffin takes the field at PNC Park.