Pirates' Konnor Griffin Earns Award Nomination

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect had an incredible first season of professional baseball, putting him amongst the best future players in the sport.

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com revealed the top three candidates for MiLB Hitting Prospect of the Year, which included Griffin, as well as Detroit Tigers top prospect in shortstop Kevin McGonigle, and St. Louis Cardinals top prospect in shortstop/second baseman JJ Wetherholt.

They will announce the winner on the MLB Network, during the MilB Awards Shows at 9:00 p.m. on Sept. 29.

Previous winners of the award include Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and more.

Mayo praised Grffin for his growth throughout his first season of professional baseball and that those adjustments put him on the track to becoming the top prospect in the game.

"The No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 Draft entered pro ball with the reputation of having perhaps the best all-around raw tools of anyone in his class, albeit with some questions about his hit tool/ability to make contact," Mayo wrote.

"Some mechanical adjustments at the plate helped him quell those concerns, and then some. The Pirates, who often will tread carefully with high school talent, had no choice but to send him to full-season ball to start the season after an impressive Spring Training.

"Griffin forced their hand twice more and he finished the year in the Double-A Eastern League playoffs at age 19, sitting atop MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list. His 165 wRC+was tops among all Minor Leaguers with at least 400 plate appearances, and he did all of that while playing a much better shortstop than expected, all but ending thoughts about him ending up in center field."

Grifin played with Single-A Bradenton at the start of 2025, where he slashed .338/.396/.536 for an OPS of .932, with 49 runs, 70 hits in 207 at-bats, 111 total bases, 10 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 26 stolen bases on 30 attempts, 36 RBIs and 15 walks to 53 strikeouts in 2025.