Highly touted Pirates second-round pick's promotion may be a Konnor Griffin hint

Konnor Griffin has had all the spotlight down in the farm system this year, and very little attention was given to the prospect taken behind him. Wyatt Sanford, the high school shortstop selected in the second round, is now joining Griffin in Bradenton, and that positional logjam may be setting up a promotion for Griffin.

Sanford got his first taste of professional baseball in the Florida Complex League and dominated. He showed all of his tools, stealing 13 bases and posting an on-base percentage of .487. That was carried by his 19% walk rate, as his batting average of .259 was .228 points lower than his on-base. His strikeout rate being identical to his walk rate was another impressive feat.

His hot start made his debut with Bradenton very exciting, and he lived up to the hype with a home run in his first at-bat. That was his lone hit in his debut, and he also drove in three runs and walked.

Sanford played second base while Griffin started at shortstop. Yordany De Los Santos, another shortstop on Bradenton's roster, filled in as the designated hitter. Sanford playing second base is not irregular for him, but as a primary shortstop, he will likely not be there on a daily basis. Later in his career, that may be the case, but not as a 19-year-old in his first game. This uncomfortable jam at shortstop may be foreshadowing a move to be made for Griffin rather than the bizarre choice to stunt Sanford's development.

Pirates' decision with Wyatt Sanford may be hinting at a Konnor Griffin promotion.

De Los Santos is not ready for Greensboro yet, so this opens the door for Griffin there. He has hit well all season, and is now showing much better plate discipline, too. Some may think that promoting him too fast may stunt his development, but after watching Griffin put together a 148 wRC+ with an OPS of .895 and 25 stolen bases, it is hard to say he isn't ready for it.

If Griffin stays put in Bradenton, maybe this could be where the Pirates begin to open the door for more outfield reps. Now that Oneil Cruz is the long-term center fielder, there is not much need for Griffin to move to the outfield. He still has played out there a few times this season, and at this point, shortstop in a couple of years is looking like his for the taking.

Greensboro has always been known as a hitters' ballpark, so it will be very exciting to see the numbers he can put up there, whenever that time arrives. He already has eight home runs through the first two months of the season, so maybe those power numbers can surge at the next level.

It's time to send him up another level after Sanford joined him in Bradenton, jamming up the shortstop spot.