Pirates call up No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin ahead of home opener

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griffin-konnor/QHKIjQIt/"]Griffin[/a], 19, will start at shortstop for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-pirates/tr9K2SqG/"]Pirates[/a] as his first major league game will be against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/baltimore-orioles/EcZwBi3N/"]Baltimore Orioles[/a]. The Jackson, Mississippi, native was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.[/p][embed guid="aabc0473-9efa-4b14-a343-a9aeed84aaaf" url="https://x.com/Pirates/status/2039709840944054769?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Through five games in Triple-A ball this season, Griffin batted .438 (7-16) with three doubles, one RBI, and three stolen bases. What he did through the minors in 2025, though, is what shot him to the top of the prospect list.[/p][p]Last season, Griffin played a total of 122 games through Single-A, High-A, and Double-A ball, where he finished with a combined .333 batting average and a .941 OPS with 21 home runs, 94 RBI, and a whopping 65 stolen bases on 78 attempts, also winning the 2025 Minor League Gold Glove Award.[/p][p]In Spring Training this year, Griffin only hit .171, going 7-for-41 at the plate with four home runs, nine RBI, two walks, 13 strikeouts, and one stolen base.[/p][embed guid="047ec866-2d7a-4315-a093-ca63f317119f" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2026365436686725351?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]He joins a Pirates lineup that ranks smack-dabbed in the middle of the league with a .231 batting average. Pittsburgh is currently 3-3 on the season as things are still getting underway.[/p][p]Should Griffin remain on the team the entire season, Pittsburgh will receive a draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive.[/p]