It takes a rare talent to be considered one of baseball’s top prospects before even playing a professional game.
That’s exactly where the Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick, Konnor Griffin, stands heading into the 2025 season. Griffin is ranked as Pittsburgh’s No. 2 prospect and the No. 43 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
As Griffin prepares for his professional debut, Pirates farm director Michael Chernow outlined the organization’s plans for the 6-foot-4 shortstop and shared his thoughts on Griffin’s immense potential.
“No word truly does Konnor justice,” Chernow said in an interview with MLB.com’s Jim Lachimia. “He has the chance to be a special player. He’ll play shortstop, and we’ll see how he handles center field as well. He’ll remain at premium positions. He’s got the speed to steal 50 bases, the strength to hit for power, and he makes a ton of contact. His approach is maturing, which is exactly what you expect from a high school player. I’m really excited about his future.”
Chernow is stepping into his first season as the Pirates’ director of coaching and player development after serving three years as the assistant director under John Baker.
Griffin made the Golden Spikes Award watchlist in his senior year—a rare feat for a high school player—and set school records for runs scored and stolen bases at Jackson Prep. He dominated at the plate, hitting .559 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs, and an astonishing 87 stolen bases in 88 attempts, earning him the Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
Chernow isn’t the only one high on Griffin’s potential. MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo praised the Pirates for selecting him as the first high school player of his draft class, noting that his raw skills stood out in the 2024 MLB Draft.
“The Pirates went all in on Konnor Griffin’s tools, and he has some of the loudest in the entire draft class,” Mayo said. “He’s got unbelievable raw power that will only improve, along with bat speed, strength, and leverage.”
With a farm system already stocked with promising pitching prospects, Pittsburgh is in need of a position player who can emerge as a difference-maker. Whether Griffin ends up at shortstop or center field, if he lives up to expectations, he could provide the spark the Pirates need.
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