The Pirates on Saturday optioned Konnor Griffin to minor league camp.

Griffin is a very promising player and the No. 1 prospect in baseball right now.

In 2024, he was named Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. Also, in his senior year of high school, he posted a .559 batting average and stole 87 bases, which was a nationwide high. 

But this is the right move for Griffin as of now. He is simply not experienced enough to be in the majors on opening day.

The time Griffin will spend in the minors will be beneficial for him. Last year, he spent the majority of his season in both of the single A teams in the Pirates’ system. 

Through spring training this year, Griffin batted .171 with four home runs and nine RBIs. This is not enough to make the team.

Griffin is a very capable player, but not having one at bat in Triple-A baseball yet is something that most likely influenced Manager Don Kelly’s decision to not take Griffin. 

This is not a bad sign for Griffin, as many stars started their careers in the minors. For example, the same year that Paul Skenes won Rookie of the Year, he started his season in Indianapolis. 

Jared Triolo is slated to be the everyday shortstop for the Pirates to begin the season. In 2024, Triolo won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for National League utilitymen.

Even with this award, Triolo hasn’t been able to prove himself offensively. Before being called back up in August, he batted only .158 with only 10 RBIs. Do not be surprised if Triolo is not given a long amount of time to prove himself. 

Although Griffin is starting his season in the minors, fans should not expect to see him there for long.