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MLB No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin improves possibilities of making Opening Day roster with enormous sport in opposition to Boston Purple Sox
The 19-year-old phenom is making a powerful case to start the 2026 season within the majors, which might put Griffin, the No. 9 general choose of the 2024 MLB Draft, in particular firm.
He climbed from Low-A to the Pirates’ Double-A workforce a season in the past however has appeared in solely 122 profession minor-league video games with 563 plate appearances (PAs), slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 residence runs and 65 stolen bases. As Baseball America lately reported, among the many 95 place gamers who’ve made a significant league roster earlier than their twenty first birthday since 1985, “They averaged 303 MiLB video games and 1,294 PAs.”
Per Baseball America, Corridor of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Bryce Harper and Juan Soto are the one gamers as younger as Griffin and with related minor league expertise (by way of video games performed and plate appearances) to have reached the majors throughout that span, and every is taken into account among the many finest of their respective generations.
Based on MLB.com, Nick Gonzalez, coming into his fourth season within the massive leagues, is the Pirates’ projected beginning shortstop. In 2025, he slashed .260/.299/.362 whereas predominantly taking part in second base, the place he obtained 87.5 % of his begins.
Throughout the offseason, the workforce acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team commerce that additionally netted the Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum, who, like Griffin, went to highschool at Jackson Prep in Flowood, Mississippi.
Gonzalez is perhaps the odd-man out within the infield if Griffin continues to impress. It is solely a matter of time earlier than the burgeoning star will get his probability, and he would possibly be capable to elevate a Pirates lineup that has potential to be a lot better than the poor 2025 model.
Pittsburgh ranked final within the majors in runs scored (3.6 per sport) and residential runs (117) whereas posting the third-worst workforce batting common (.231) a season in the past, however the workforce added energy to the lineup with Lowe, 2025 All-Star outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and two-time silver slugger Marcell Ozuna, the workforce’s anticipated designated hitter.
With reigning NL Cy Younger winner Paul Skenes anchoring the Pirates’ rotation, they want a lineup that may present constant run help.
Griffin would possibly give Pittsburgh extra upside on the plate, and he’ll must proceed to show himself the remainder of spring coaching for supervisor Don Kelly to present him the large promotion to start out the common season.
If not now, it is going to be quickly sufficient.
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