{"id":560485,"date":"2026-04-02T16:17:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/560485\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T16:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:17:07","slug":"pirates-call-up-no-1-prospect-konnor-griffin-for-home-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/560485\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates call up No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin for home opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> are calling up Konnor Griffin<\/a>, the No. 1 prospect in baseball<\/a>, ahead of their home opener against the Baltimore Orioles<\/a> on Friday.<\/p>\n

At 19 years and 344 days old, Griffin, who is expected to take over starting shortstop duties for Pittsburgh, would be the first teenage position player to debut since Juan Soto<\/a> in 2018.<\/p>\n

Griffin and the Pirates are currently engaged in discussions on a record-setting long-term contract extension<\/a>, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney. Griffin joining the Pirates before any extension is complete would allow the team to be eligible for a potential first-round draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive.<\/p>\n

The reigning consensus minor league player of the year, Griffin spent five games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, hitting .438\/.571\/.625 with three doubles and three stolen bases in 21 plate appearances. In 16 spring training games this year, Griffin hit .171\/.261\/.488 with a team-leading four home runs and nine RBIs.<\/p>\n

Opening Debut. pic.twitter.com\/ILemWfjIHS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 2, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Griffin, chosen with the ninth overall pick out in the 2024 draft out of Jackson Prep in Mississippi, rocketed through the minor leagues in his first season last year, hitting .333\/.415\/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases at Low-A, High-A and Double-A. With his power, speed and unexpectedly excellent defense at shortstop, he flew up prospect lists and finished ahead of Detroit<\/a>‘s Kevin McGonigle<\/a> and St. Louis<\/a>‘ JJ Wetherholt<\/a>, two middle infielders who started the season with their major league teams.<\/p>\n

Optioning Griffin to the minor leagues to start the year gave the sides time to make progress on a potential extension — and set a target date of April 9 for his arrival. The Prospect Promotion Incentive necessitates a top-100 prospect spend a full season in the big leagues — 172 days on the 26-man roster — to be eligible. If he does so, the team receives a first-round pick should he win Rookie of the Year or finish in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting in any of his first three seasons.<\/p>\n

Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n

2 Related<\/p>\n

By keeping ace Paul Skenes<\/a> in the minor leagues to begin the 2024 season, the Pirates missed out on the draft pick when Skenes won Rookie of the Year — and, for doing so, he still received a full year of service time.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh’s pivot toward potential contention this season included their biggest dip into free agency in a generation, with the signings of first baseman\/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn<\/a> and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna<\/a>, plus a trade for second baseman Brandon Lowe<\/a>. With a rotation headlined by Skenes that includes potential star Bubba Chandler<\/a>, steady veteran Mitch Keller<\/a> and the underrated Braxton Ashcraft<\/a>, Pittsburgh coveted a lineup to match its rotation.<\/p>\n

Griffin only adds to that — and joins Soto, Bryce Harper<\/a> and Mike Trout<\/a> as the most notable players to make their big league debuts as teenagers this century.<\/p>\n

Whether they can get a long-term deal done is the burning question going forward. Seattle<\/a> signed shortstop Colt Emerson<\/a>, another top-10 prospect, to an eight-year, $95 million contract despite him remaining at Triple-A. Milwaukee<\/a> has been negotiating an eight-year, $50 million deal for shortstop Cooper Pratt<\/a>, also at Triple-A.<\/p>\n

McGonigle and Wetherholt also have engaged in negotiations on extensions, according to sources, though those are not currently as likely to cross the finish line as Griffin’s.<\/p>\n