Pirates make decision on baseball’s No. 1 prospect before home opener
· Yahoo Sports
Hopes for the 2026 MLB season are sky-high in Pittsburgh after the Pirates made several offseason moves.
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So far, free-agent signees Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn have combined for five home runs and 10 RBIs. Also, Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes put together a strong outing on Wednesday, April 1, after a tough first start.
Pittsburgh started 3-3 heading into an off day on Thursday, April 2.
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Hovering over all the optimism, Pirates fans knew baseball’s top prospect, 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin, was on the way.
Well, the wait ended quicker than expected. On Thursday, ESPN senior reporter Jeff Passan posted that Griffin will join the Pirates for their home opener on Friday.
Griffin, who turns 20 on April 24, is the No. 1 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com, He impressed early in spring training, but the organization sent him to the minor-league camp March 21 to work on plate discipline.
In his first 16 at-bats at Triple-A Indianapolis, Griffin recorded seven hits, including three doubles, for a .438 average and 1.196 OPS, per MLB.com. That includes five walks against just four strikeouts.
The Pirates seemed to confirm reports of Griffin’s promotion. The team released a short video on X showing Griffin raising his head and looking into the camera with the caption “Opening Debut.”
Pittsburgh’s primary shortstop, Jared Triolo, is off to a slow start. Through the first six games, Triolo is hitting .150 with a double, no home runs and no RBIs.
Griffin will become the first teenager to make his MLB debut since Juan Soto in 2018, per ESPN. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the Pirates are in negotiations to sign Griffin to a long-term contract.
The Pirates host the Orioles at 4:12 p.m. ET Friday, April 3.