Experts Vote Pirates’ Prospect Minor League Player Of The Year

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a very exciting prospect on the way.

Konnor Griffin is the number one-ranked prospect in baseball by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. On Monday, Baseball America named Griffin the Minor League Player of the Year for 2025.

At just 19 years old, the shortstop tore through the Pirates’ system with little struggle along the way. He played 50 at Low-A Bradenton, hitting .338 with nine home runs and 26 stolen bases before being promoted to High-A Greensboro. With the Grasshoppers, he played another 51 games, and the results were similar — a .325 batting average with seven home runs and 33 stolen bases.

He ended the season with Double-A Altoona. He only played 21 games with the Curve, but the results were once again impressive. He hit five home runs, stole six bases, and registered a .337 batting average. He’s the youngest player to ever play for Altoona, but you’d never know it by watching him play.

“It’s been a crazy year and a long journey,” Griffin said. “I really didn’t know what to expect. I’ve learned a lot about myself and just try and get better every day.”

The Pirates weren’t a high-octane offense in 2025. Their pitching was excellent, but they didn’t score enough runs to translate pitching into wins frequently. It might be a stretch, but Griffin has a case to begin 2026 on the 26-man roster.

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