Pirates fans see familiar superstar blueprint in Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin

The last golden age of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball was built around two pillars — one on the mound and the other in the batter's box and in the field. From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates made three straight playoff appearances, capping the run with a 98-win campaign in 2015. The two pillars, the men at the center of the run, were Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen.

The catalyst of the run was McCutchen's NL MVP-winning season in 2013. By that point, the fan favorite had become a bona fide superstar and a five-tool player, allowing for a series of complementary pieces to come together around him to create a formidable lineup.

Cole was the up-and-coming youngster. He hadn't quite reached the Cy Young form he'd reach later in his career, but there were flashes that proved he would soon become the top starting pitcher in the game.

Fast forward to 2026, and we might be seeing the makings of the next dynamic duo to usher in playoff baseball in Pittsburgh, in the form of Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin.

Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin could be the next dynamic duo that sparks a Pirates playoff run

By now, we all know that Skenes is a superstar, but what he's missing is an equivalent running mate on the offensive side of the ball. Once he has that, and with the additions the Pirates have made to bolster their offense, the playoffs won't be out of the realm of possibility.

He might not need to look far. Griffin is the No. 1 prospect in baseball for a reason. He reached heights last season that only fellow Pirates' prospect Edward Florentino could match. Now, he's flashing in big league spring training.

While there had been some optimism dating back to the offseason that he could break camp with the big club, Ben Cherington threw some cold water on that possibility, while also not dismissing it completely.

When he talks about having a "responsibility" to Griffin as an organization, what he's saying is that the club must put him in the best possible position to maximize his potential and reach his ceiling. They don't want a Griffin who is merely very good. They want him to become one of the game's inner circle elites.

That might mean we have to wait a bit for the youngster. After all, he's played just 21 games at Double-A. And that's okay, because the payoff is what truly matters. The ultimate vision is to have two superstars, one on each side of the ball, propelling Pittsburgh to the playoffs year after year. Skenes is already there. Griffin will be ready soon. When that happens, watch out.