Konnor Griffin (Image Credits: Imagn)

Pittsburgh Pirates GM Shares Grim News On Konnor Griffin’s Opening Day Status

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated Mar 9, 2026 11:48 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are showing serious ambition towards challenging for a playoff berth this year after making several additions to their lineup. They already have a capable pitching staff with reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes as their ace. Meanwhile, top prospect Konnor Griffin is expected to join the Pirates’ roster in 2026.

On Sunday, Ben Cherington, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ general manager, played down the chances of Konnor Griffin becoming part of their Opening Day roster for the moment. Cherington stated the 19-year-old shortstop is showing progression at the Pirates’ spring training camp. However, he feels Griffin still has some way to go before he gets a call-up to the MLB team.

“He’s been impressive, as we anticipated he would be,” Cherington told MLB.com. “Knowing Konnor, the physical skills and who he is as a person, we anticipated that he would do good things in spring training. And he has.

The Pirates are expected to approach Konnor Griffin with a long-term extension at some point this spring, per @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/8gFUGe1TJO
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) February 27, 2026

“I just think we haven’t gotten there,” he added. “Take it a day at a time. As we get a little deeper into March, we’ll start making decisions as we get closer with the roster.”

Konnor Griffin was the first-round pick for the Pirates and the ninth overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. He recently became the No. 1 prospect ahead of the 2026 season, as per MLB Pipeline.

Pirates Focusing On Long-Term Development Of Konnor Griffin

Konnor Griffin (Image Credits: Imagn)

Ben Cherington iterated that the Pittsburgh Pirates are currently focusing on the long-term development of Konnor Griffin rather than preparing him for an immediate jump into the MLB. He expects Griffin to have a long career in the major leagues, although that may not necessarily begin this year.

“We believe we have a responsibility as an organization with Konnor Griffin,” Cherington said. “He’s got a chance to have a really good, long career. It’s our job to do everything we can to support him to be in the best spot possible to do that.”

"We're looking at a generational player. I've been around long enough to know what I see."

– Harold Reynolds on Konnor Griffin pic.twitter.com/RIi6cdEVn4
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 25, 2026

Griffin enjoyed an outstanding first year in professional baseball, making quick progress in the Pirates’ minor league system. He started 2025 in Single-A with the Bradenton Marauders before moving up to the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers by June. Konnor Griffin ended the year with the Altoona Curve in Double-A. He posted a .333/.415/.527 slash with 21 home runs across the three teams.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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