The Pittsburgh Pirates made an unprecedented long-term commitment to baseball’s consensus No. 1 prospect by locking up shortstop Konnor Griffin to a franchise-record contract.
The Pirates announced Wednesday morning that they have signed Griffin to a nine-year contract through the 2034 season. According to a league source, the deal is worth $140 million with escalators that could reach $150 million.
Griffin’s is a record deal, both for the Pirates and for a player in his rookie season, as Griffin has only five games of major league experience. It marks the second nine-figure contract the Pirates have given, as outfielder Bryan Reynolds signed an eight-year, $106.75 million deal in April 2023.
“Signing Konnor is a meaningful commitment to this team, this city and our fans. It reflects our belief in Konnor, in this season’s club and in the future of our organization,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. “Konnor represents everything we value in a player — exceptional talent, strong character, a team-first mentality and a maturity that stood out to all of us from the beginning. He is the right person, from the right family. This is another important step in the work we have been doing to build a winning team, for this year and going forward.”
The 19-year-old Griffin, who turns 20 on April 24, was named Baseball America’s minor league player of the year in 2025 after batting .333/.415/.527 with 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, 117 runs scored and 65 stolen bases in 122 games across three levels in his first professional season. He also won a Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove.
After batting .171 in spring training — but leading the Pirates with four home runs and nine RBIs in 16 Grapefruit League games — the 6-foot-3, 222-pounder was reassigned to minor league camp March 21. In five games at Triple-A Indianapolis, he batted .438/.571/.625 with three doubles and an RBI, as well as more walks (five) than strikeouts (four).
“Since joining the organization, Konnor has consistently demonstrated the traits we want in a Pirate — a daily commitment to improvement, a team-first mindset and a strong desire to win,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement. “He has met every challenge in front of him, and we are excited to watch him continue that growth alongside his teammates in Pittsburgh. We are thrilled he will be with a Pirate for a long time.”
ESPN reported that the Pirates and Griffin were closing in on a contract agreement before Griffin was promoted to the Pirates on Thursday, in time to make his major league debut in Friday’s home opener at PNC Park. The timing of that report threatened the team’s chances to receive a compensatory draft pick as part of the Prospect Promotion Incentive, which rewards clubs for bringing top 100 prospects to the majors early.
Griffin had an RBI double in his first plate appearance to become the youngest Pirates player to record a hit in his debut since Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski in 1956, then scored a run in the 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles before a sellout crowd of 38,986.
Griffin endured an 0-for-14 streak over his next three-plus games before going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored in Tuesday’s 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres.
Afterward, Pirates ace Paul Skenes called Griffin a “difference maker.”
“Just his presence, just the way he goes about his business,” Skenes said. “He’s a big leaguer, through and through.”
A native of Florence, Miss., who was the No. 9 selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, Griffin has rocketed to stardom in a short span. Before his debut, Griffin was asked about the possibility of signing a long-term contract with the Pirates.
“All I’m going to say is, I want to be a Pirate for a long time,” Griffin said. “This is a special place and I’m thankful to be here.”