Konnor Griffin Praised as Potential Pirates Superstar

FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen compares Pirates' top prospect to some of the best shortstops in recent history.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Konnor Griffin, the top-ranked prospect in baseball, is being hailed as a potential franchise-altering talent for the Pittsburgh Pirates. FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen compared Griffin's talent to that of Bobby Witt Jr., Hanley Ramirez, and Carlos Correa, and suggested he could one day be mentioned alongside Pittsburgh sports legend Mean Joe Greene if the team can sign him to an extension.

Why it matters

The Pirates have struggled for decades, but the arrival of a generational talent like Griffin could help revive the franchise and bring long-awaited glory back to Pittsburgh. As the team's top prospect, Griffin's development and potential impact have Pirates fans more excited than they've been in years.

The details

In his first professional season, the 20-year-old Griffin slashed .333/.415/.527 while climbing three levels of the minors, including a month-long stint at Double-A where he posted a .960 OPS. Longenhagen praised Griffin's "supreme physical gifts" and "complete player" profile, noting he might even surpass top draft pick Paul Skenes as the best player on the team.

  • Konnor Griffin was ranked the #1 prospect in baseball on every top-100 list this offseason.
  • Griffin made his professional debut in 2025 and quickly rose through the minors.

The players

Konnor Griffin

The Pittsburgh Pirates' 20-year-old shortstop prospect, ranked as the #1 overall prospect in baseball.

Eric Longenhagen

The lead prospect analyst at FanGraphs, who provided high praise for Griffin in his latest prospect rankings.

Paul Skenes

The top draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who Longenhagen suggested Griffin might surpass as the best player on the team.

Mean Joe Greene

A legendary Pittsburgh sports figure, who Longenhagen compared Griffin to in terms of his potential impact on the city.

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What they’re saying

“Griffin is not only clearly the best prospect in baseball, but one of the top handful of prospects ever evaluated during the current era of FanGraphs scouting, which goes back a little over 10 years. He's a franchise-altering entity whose talent rivals that of Bobby Witt Jr., a young, level-headed Hanley Ramirez, or a faster Carlos Correa.”

— Eric Longenhagen, Lead Prospect Analyst, FanGraphs (FanGraphs)

“This is a complete player, an absolute monster who might make Paul Skenes the second-best guy on his team in short order, who might one day be mentioned in Pittsburgh in the same breath as Mean Joe Greene if they can find a way to get an extension done, and whose daily impact can help return the Pirates to long-awaited glory.”

— Eric Longenhagen, Lead Prospect Analyst, FanGraphs (FanGraphs)

What’s next

The Pirates will look to sign Konnor Griffin to a long-term extension as he prepares to make his MLB debut in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

The arrival of a generational talent like Konnor Griffin has Pirates fans more excited than they've been in decades, as the team hopes he can help revive the franchise and bring long-awaited success back to Pittsburgh.