Pirates' fans won't like seeing this Konnor Griffin roster prediction

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been a fun team to watch, largely thanks to Paul Skenes. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft came into the league with a ton of hype and has performed above expectations. 

Now, fans are waiting for their newest top prospect to hit the ground running. Konnor Griffin comes into the season not only as Pittsburgh's top prospect, but the top prospect in all of baseball. 

He was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and he is looking to make an early mark, just like Skenes has done, but he has some obstacles ahead of him. 

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Pirates' fans won't like seeing this Konnor Griffin roster prediction

One thing that Pittsburgh is notorious for is keeping its top prospects down in the minors, even if they are ready for MLB action. 

Heading into camp, one of the bigger stories will be the competition at shortstop between Griffin and Nick Gonzales. There is a world where Griffin forces Pittsburgh's hand, but Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes Gonzales will be given a chance to prove himself this season. 

"How long can Nick Gonzales delay the inevitable? That's the question here. Top prospect Konnor Griffin had a brilliant 2025 season, hitting .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs, 94 RBI and 65 steals in 122 games while reaching Double-A. If history repeats itself, the Pirates will send Griffin to the minors even if he looks ready, just like they did with Paul Skenes. That will give Gonzales, a former top-10 pick, another chance to prove himself."

That might not be what the fans want to hear, but it may be what they need to prepare for. They just need to remember that Griffin is banging on the door and will be up with the club sooner rather than later.

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