Pirates take another big step forward with major prospect news after Phillies sweep

Konnor Griffin is officially moving on up to the next level in High-A after his incredible start in Bradenton. This promotion was very well deserved, but it may actually serve as a major risk for the Pirates' top prospect.

Even though he is just 19 years old and has played just 50 professional games, the best decision for Griffin was to send him right to their Double-A affiliate in Altoona. That may be a hot take, since the pitching jump between those levels is significant, but given what he has proved so far, it may be safe to say that he could handle himself there.

In his first taste of Bradenton, Griffin batted .338 with nine home runs and 26 stolen bases. His OPS reached .932 with a 156 wRC+ and 22.6% strikeout rate. His offensive tools are just as great as any other prospect, but the concern with his new spot in Greensboro may negatively impact his approach at the plate.

Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin earned this promotion, but Greensboro is a risky place for a prospect.

Greensboro has always been known as a hitters' ballpark. Players in the past have had inconsistent home/away splits when in High-A or struggled the second they got to Double-A. The pitching change is undoubtedly a factor, but the big risk here is throwing Griffin's approach off as he chases more home runs, since they will be easier to come by in this ballpark.

Right now, there are a handful of players in Greensboro experiencing this phenomenon, and some former top prospects in the past that have fallen off because of it. Pittsburgh cannot afford for Griffin to fall into that trend, especially since his approach has been outstanding so far this season. His line-drive rate sits at 26.5%, which is slightly above the MLB league average of 25%. When he connects, he can hit it hard and far, topping out at a 114 exit velocity.

If his line-drive rate falls due to an increased fly-ball rate while chasing more home runs, he may fall into problems with his overall consistency at the plate, which is what happens to some players in Greensboro. For example, look at Matt Frazier, a former ranked prospect in the organization. In 2021, he belted 20 home runs in Greensboro before moving up to Altoona. He performed well that season in a short stint there, but since 2021, he has stunted in Double-A, remaining there for another three seasons. His bat completely fell off and his fly-ball rates climbed above 40% since leaving Greensboro; he has yet to hit double digit home runs in a season since 2021.

Another former ranked prospect in Maikol Escotto has finally broke out again in Greensboro, yet once he got to Altoona, he fell off a bit. At home in Greensboro in 2025, Escotto posted a 1.083 OPS at home games, and on the road it dropped to .533. A .500 point drop is ridiculous, and that trend is continuing in Double-A, with just two hits in 23 at bats.

The Pirates cannot afford for Griffin to fall off like these other prospects. Griffin's ceiling is remarkably higher than these two guys, but recent history in Greensboro proves why this is a major risk with his development. The argument could be made for any prospect in the Pirates organization, but they need to be extra careful for a player like Griffin that could change the trajectory of this franchise once he gets to the big leagues.

Griffin has the tools to turn this club around, and getting him to the lineup in Pittsburgh as quickly and productively as possible is the priority. This promotion is a step in the right direction, but Griffin needs to maintain his same approach at the plate and not alter anything to hit more home runs in Greensboro. Sending him right to Altoona may have been the better decision.