Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Sports Illustrated

Sport

Ryan Phillips

Four Bold Predictions for Konnor Griffin’s Rookie Season

Konnor Griffin Pirates Pittsburgh (Organization) Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball MLB

The Pirates have called up Konnor Griffin in what will likely be a significant moment in franchise history.

Griffin ranked No. 1 on our list of the top 50 MLB prospects for 2026 and there was. a decent gap to Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle at No. 2. The 19-year-old shortstop is a star in the making, and the Pirates have to be excited for what’s next. In fact, they’re so confident in Griffin that they handed him a nine-year, $140 million contract extension before he even debuted in the big leagues.

You can check out our full scouting report on Griffin at the bottom of this article, but for now let’s focus on some bold predictions for his rookie season.

He will steal 40 bases

I could have been even more bold and said 50, but I don’t think he’ll get there. Griffin is a threat to swipe an extra bag every time he’s on base. He has elite speed and stole 65 bases in 78 attempts in 2025, his first season of pro ball. On the 20/80 scale, his speed checks in around 70, and he knows how to use it.

In 2025, only four MLB players stole 40 bases. Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero grabbed 49 and Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez took 44, as did Rays center fielder Chandler Simpson. A total of 19 players topped 30 steals, a mark Griffin should reach easily.

He will rack up strikeouts, but improve as the season goes

If there’s one hole in Griffin’s game, it’s that he’ll strike out more than you’d like to see. In 122 games last season over three levels, he struck out 122 times while racking up 50 walks. His strikeout rate of 21.7% was about league average, while his walk rate of 8.9% was also in the average range. Given the jump in competition he’s about to face, it’s safe to expect those numbers to rise.

Griffin struck out 13 times in 16 spring training games for a K rate of 28.3%. He walked only twice for a BB rate of 4.3%. It’s likely he struggles in both areas early in his career, but Griffin has shown a remarkable ability to adapt as he’s moved up the ranks. By the end of the season, I’m betting he’s around league average or better at both stats, and will improve on that moving forward.

He will hit some mammoth home runs

While speed and his arm are likely Griffin’s best tools, his power isn’t far behind. He has 70-grade raw power and generates big exit velocities when he makes contact. That will lead to some majestic home runs. In spring training, he hammered one that went 440 feet with an EV of 111 mph. He also had a ball come off the bat at 111.2 mph, which was the second highest of the spring for the Pirates.

That's ✌️ today! pic.twitter.com/VarLMbSajj
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 24, 2026

The thing is, Griffin doesn’t get to his power as much as you’d hope. He’s still getting better at leveraging that kind of contact. This is where I remind you that he won’t turn 20 until late April, and he’s still learning how to get loft on balls to send them out. But when he does connect, the ball jumps off his bat. We’ll see that at least a few times this season.

He’ll win NL Rookie of the Year

This is a pretty bold pick given that he’ll play most of the season at 20 years old, and older guys like Reds first baseman Sal Stewart and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt are already making a big impact. Still, I think Griffin will be undeniable.

Between his power, defense and speed, he’s going to wind up being far more valuable than anyone else in his rookie class. If he stays healthy, he’s going to produce significant WAR even if he struggles with strikeouts. Plus, I think he’ll produce enough highlights to be at the front of voters’ minds all season.

Konnor Griffin scouting report

This is our full scouting report for Griffin, taken from the top 50 prospects article.

Griffin had the best all-around tools in the 2024 draft as a prep shortstop out of Jackson, Miss. The fact that he reclassified from ’25 to ’24 may have hurt his stock a bit, but it didn’t matter to the Pirates, who took him with the No. 9 pick and handed him a massive $6.53 million bonus. That move has paid off.

The 19-year-old, who could play short or center, is the consensus top prospect in baseball with five outstanding tools. He drips with star power and showed that repeatedly at three levels during his first professional season in 2025. In 122 minor league games, Griffin slashed .333/.415/.527, with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. In his final stop at Double A Altoona, he played 21 games and hit .337with a .418 on-base percentage while slugging .524 and producing a ridiculous wRC+ of 175.

Griffin is an outstanding athlete at 6’3” and 222 pounds, who possesses tons of power, elite speed, and an arm that plays all over the diamond. He shouldn’t be this good this young, but he is. A true unicorn prospect. It won’t be long before Pittsburgh has him locked into the lineup.