Konnor Griffin Receives Praise From Fellow Top Pirates Prospect

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin has earned praise from around baseball and especially from a fellow top prospect in the organization.

Konnor Griffin Earns Praise from Edward Florentino

The Pirates announced their first round of minor league awards naming outfielder Edward Florentino as their Rookie-Level Player of the Year.

Florentino dominated with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Pirates, which earned him the award, and also with Single-A Bradenton in 2025.

He didn't play with Griffin this past season in the minors, but did meet up with him in Spring Training, where he got to see the top prospect in baseball full up.

Florentino, who spoke to the media after winning the award, praised Griffin for not just his talent, but that his drive and mindset, which saw Griffin become the best young talent in the sport.

“When I saw him in spring training, that was impressive because his talent is just crazy," Florentino said. "I was trying to get closer to him and try to learn about how he worked and try to follow his steps. I know we are young but the mentality that we can get is different. Everybody has a different mentality but when you see a player just the same age and he got a lot of talent like him, it’s just impressive. You try to follow him.”

2025 and the Season Konnor Griffin Became a Baseball Star

The Pirates took Konnor Griffin with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson, Miss., but no one expected he'd do as well as he did in his first season of professional baseball.

It was a quick rise for Griffin, who started at Bradenton, moved up to High-A Greensboro on June 10 and then to Double-A Altoona on Aug. 18.

Griffin finished his season with a slash line of .333/.415/.527 for an OPS of .942 in 122 games, 161 hits, 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, 50 walks to 122 strikeouts and 65 stolen bases on 13 attempts.

He led all of minor league baseball with 117 runs scored and the 19-year old became the first teenage draftee to have a 20-40 season, finishing with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases. He was also the first minor league player to have a 20-60 season since 1982.

Griffin earned numerous accolades for his performances, including Baseball America naming him their Minor League Player of the Year Award and MLB Pipeline naming him their Hitting Prospect of the Year and Debut of the Year.

MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and The Athletic all have Griffin as their top prospect, each naming him around July-August, with national media, scouts and baseball fans alike realizing the potential and talent of the 19 year old.

He also featured in the Futures Game, which sees the best propsects in baseball play in a game during the All-Star festivities. Fellow Pirates prospect in outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez joined him in representing the franchise for the National League.