When the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Konnor Griffin with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, they weren’t just investing in a high school standout—they were betting on a generational talent. One year later, that bet looks brilliant. Griffin has officially ascended to the top of MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings, becoming the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball.
Griffin’s journey began at Jackson Prep in Mississippi, where he dazzled scouts with his five-tool potential. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, Griffin possessed elite athleticism, electric bat speed, and a cannon for an arm—his fastball once touched 96 mph on the mound. Despite questions about his right-handed swing translating to pro ball, the Pirates saw the upside and signed him away from his LSU commitment with a $6.2 million bonus.
Fast forward to 2025, and Griffin has silenced every doubt. Splitting time between Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro, he’s slashing a jaw-dropping .324/.400/.511 with 13 home runs and 42 stolen bases in 79 games. His strikeout rate sits at a manageable 21%, and he ranks ninth in the minors in batting average. Scouts rave about his 30-30 potential, and his defensive versatility—primarily playing shortstop but also logging time in center field—adds another layer to his value.
Griffin’s rise through the prospect ranks has been nothing short of historic. He began the season ranked No. 43 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. By July, he had leapfrogged Pirates pitching phenom Bubba Chandler and climbed to No. 2. When Roman Anthony graduated to the majors, Griffin seized the top spot, becoming the first player ever to reach No. 1 in his debut professional season.
His performance hasn’t just been statistical—it’s been electric. Griffin earned South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors shortly after his promotion to High-A, and he represented the Pirates at the Futures Game in Atlanta, where he showcased his speed and grit despite a brief injury scare.
For a Pirates organization hungry for a franchise cornerstone, Griffin offers hope. With former #1 prospect Paul Skenes already in the majors and Chandler waiting in Triple-A, Pittsburgh’s future is beginning to take shape. Griffin, with his rare blend of tools and polish, could be the centerpiece of a new era at PNC Park.
If his trajectory continues, Griffin may not just be the Pirates’ future—he could be one of baseball’s brightest stars by the end of the decade.