Pirates fans are going to love Konnor Griffin’s latest MLB comp

Every single day that passes, the buzz around Pittsburgh Pirates super-prospect Konnor Griffin continues to grow. The phenom took the field last year for the first time in his professional career and smashed any doubt that he's on a superstar trajectory.

A .333/.415/.527 21-homer, 65-steal performance starting in Single-A Bradenton and finishing in Double-A Altoona didn't just raise eyebrows, but also made Griffin the consensus No. 1 prospect in the game. Deservedly so.

Now we're hearing rumblings of him having a shot to make the opening day roster, while MLB executives and pundits alike agree that he's a 2026 National League Rookie of the Year favorite, it's hard not to get excited.

If the on-field talent wasn't enough, the youngster's attitude and work ethic will win you over. Seeing that he's got his head screwed on right and is focused on the work ahead makes it the closest thing to a guarantee that he will reach his tremendous ceiling.

In the midst of all the superlatives, it can be hard to get a grasp on just how elite Griffin could wind up being. Sometimes the best tool we have is player comps, and a survey of MLB executives generated two out-of-this-world comps that will make your head explode.

Pirates' top prospect Konnor Griffin drawing comps to Paul Skenes and Bobby Witt Jr. will have fans over the moon

The consensus among these evaluators is that Griffin is among the best minor leaguers they've ever seen, comparing him as a talent to Paul Skenes and Bobby Witt Jr. Let that sink in for a moment.

Skenes, as we all know, instantly became the best player at his position upon his debut in 2024. Witt Jr. would have at least one MVP trophy in his case if not for a certain man named Aaron Judge.

Witt Jr. is the more apt comparison, given that he plays the same position as Griffin. Since arriving in the bigs in 2022, Witt Jr. owns a .290/.340/.504 line with 105 homers and 148 stolen bases. He's also won two Gold Gloves over that four-year stretch, showing the complete five-tool package. In fact, Witt Jr.'s numbers were depressed by an "average" rookie year in which he posted a 98 wRC+.

If Griffin can have the immediate impact of Skenes while mimicking the feats of Witt Jr. on the field, the Pirates won't just have a star on their hands; they'll have a guy who is in the conversation as the best player in the sport.

We all know that Griffin is good, but having it contextualized this way is so incredibly tantalizing that you can't help but salivate thinking about what the future holds. All that's left to do is wait (impatiently) for his arrival.