As top overall prospect Konnor Griffin makes his case for an Opening Day roster spot with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he’s earning support from a superstar with the Philadelphia Phillies.
“He’s going to be a stud,” Bryce Harper said in an in-game interview on Sunday, February 22, relayed by MLB’s official X account. “I hope they let him move through the organization pretty quickly and let him get up to the big leagues.”
Harper can relate to the 19-year-old Griffin’s journey. The two-time National League MVP debuted with the Washington Nationals as a 19-year-old. Harper hit .270 with 26 home runs, earning NL Rookie of the Year honors. “I would just tell him to be himself,” Harper said. “Do what got you here.”
Konnor Griffin Praised by Bryce Harper as He Makes Case for Roster Spot
Harper is certainly a good advocate to have in his corner, but Griffin is doing well to make his own argument to be on the Opening Day squad. He spent the first week of MLB Spring Training belting home runs all over the yard. The batting practice display has fanned the flames of Pirates fans eager for Griffin to land a roster spot.
Pittsburgh took Griffin with the 9th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He obliterated the minor leagues in his first professional season, slashing .333/.415/.527 across three levels. Griffin racked up 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases while spending time at Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. He capped off his year with 21 games of a 175 wRC+ with Altoona.
Griffin is the consensus top prospect in all of baseball. MLB.com, FanGraphs, and ESPN all have him in the No. 1 slot. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN described the shortstop as an “NFL wideout-level athlete who also has high-end skills,” while comparing him to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Bobby Witt Jr.
Can Griffin Actually Break Camp With the Pirates?
MLB teams, particularly ones on the lower end of the payroll scale, have tended to delay prospect debuts for financial reasons. Holding young players in the minors for a certain amount of time can limit their earnings and maximize club control. The institution of the Prospect Promotion Incentive has given organizations a reason to fast-track players to the big leagues.
If a player who is eligible for the incentive program accrues a year of MLB service time as a rookie, the team has a chance to land an extra draft pick. All the player has to do is win Rookie of the Year or finish top three for the MVP award or the Cy Young award before reaching arbitration. Griffin is currently among the betting favorites for NL Rookie of the Year honors.
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