Where Konnor Griffin projects in Pirates lineup after No. 1 prospect in baseball gets call up to MLB

Where Konnor Griffin projects in Pirates lineup after No. 1 prospect in baseball gets call up to MLB originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The top prospect in MLB is officially joining the Pittsburgh Pirates . Pittsburgh announced Thursday that it is calling up shortstop Konnor Griffin, who has been considered the top young player across the minor leagues and someone the Pirates hope will blossom into a superstar. Griffin, still just 19, was in the mix to make the Pirates' Opening Day roster, instead spending around a week in Triple-A.

Now, he's set to become a key piece of Pittsburgh's lineup as it eyes its first playoff appearance since 2015. Here's a look at how Griffin could fit into the Pirates' lineup as he embarks on his rookie season. SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule Pirates lineup with Konnor Griffin CF O'Neil Cruz 2B Brandon Lowe LF Bryan Reynolds DH Marcell Ozuna 1B Ryan O'Hearn SS Konnor Griffin 3B Nick Gonzales C Henry Davis RF Jake Magnum Pittsburgh has shuffled around its lineups a bit to open the 2026 season, going 3-3 so far.

But if the Pirates made one thing clear this past offseason, it's that they're as serious as ever about making a return to the postseason — and now, they have an intriguing mix of veteran sluggers with up-and-coming bats in their lineup. For now, Griffin shouldn't be expected to be a top-4 hitter in the order, but he could certainly play his way into that kind of role soon. MLB teams are often cautious about the expectations they place on young hitters, especially top prospects like Griffin, allowing them to get a feel for MLB pitching at the bottom of the lineup before moving up.