Can the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick in the draft climb through their farm system quickly like their 2023 pick?
The Pirates selected Paul Skenes with their first-round pick in 2023, and the ace pitcher took almost no time to be called up to the majors. In a farm system filled with talented pitching prospects, Pittsburgh drafted Konnor Griffin with the ninth overall pick. Griffin is a right-handed hitting shortstop and outfielder from Jackson Prep in Mississippi.
MLB.com’s Jim Callis projected who the top prospect would be for every MLB team in 2025. For the Pirates, he projected 2024 first-round pick Konnor Griffin to climb to the top of the team’s farm system.
“Griffin possessed the best all-around tools in the 2024 Draft and could be a 30-30 guy who provides quality defense at shortstop or wins Gold Gloves in center field,” Callis wrote.
Pittsburgh’s current top prospect is right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler. Chandler is baseball’s No. 15 prospect and is set to reach the majors during the 2025 season, leaving space at the top of the Pirates’ farm system for Griffin.
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Griffin was the first high school player taken this year in the draft and is already ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates organization. Pittsburgh has a lot of pitching depth in its farm system but lacks a balance of position players which drafting Griffin should help address.
Griffin has the power to be a major contributor offensively, while playing solid defense either at short or in the outfield. The Pirates future looks bright with skilled players like him in their farm system.
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