The Pittsburgh Pirates said Wednesday they have agreed to a nine-year contract extension with shortstop Konnor Griffin, the top prospect in baseball.
The team did not announce the contract value, but ESPN pegged it at $140 million, making it the largest amount of guaranteed money in Pirates history and the most for any rookie.
The Pirates selected Griffin with the ninth overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood, Miss. A year earlier, the Pirates took pitcher Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick.
Griffin turns 20 on April 24. He started this season at Triple-A Indianapolis and was called up to make his major league debut on April 4.
“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 chair 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 contract was a matter of when, not if. ESPN reported that by waiting until after Griffin’s debut to agree to a deal, the Pirates would gain a first-round draft pick should Griffin win National League Rookie of the Year honors or be voted in the top three for Most Valuable Player in 2026, 2027 or 2028.
“This week has been amazing, debut week, and then sitting here signing a contract, it’s been amazing,” Griffin said, per ESPN. “It’s one of the best weeks of my life.”
In 2025, he was named minor league player of the year after hitting .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. Those statistics are combined for his 122 games across three levels — Class A, High A and Double A.
In his first six games with Pittsburgh, Griffin is hitting .167 with four RBIs. He entered Wednesday’s 8-2 loss to the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning and hit a sacrifice fly as a pinch hitter and later struck out.
Griffin’s contract runs through 20234 and is the richest in franchise history, surpassing outfielder Bryan Reynolds’ eight-year, $106.75 million deal that ends in 2030.
Griffin said Pittsburgh — the city and the team — is a comfortable fit for him.
“I see a winning organization here,” Griffin said after the loss. “We’re gonna do a lot of great things with the players that we have. I wanna be a part of it for nine years. I wanna continue to be a part of the build of winning playoff baseball. This is a great place for me, a great place for my family. I couldn’t be more proud.”
He becomes the third shortstop prospect to sign a lucrative extension this spring. Seattle signed Colt Emerson to a contract worth $95 million over eight years. Milwaukee and Cooper Pratt agreed to a $50.75 million contract to run eight seasons with two team options.
Both Emerson and Pratt are playing at Triple A to open the season.
The Pirates last made the playoffs in 2015.
–Field Level Media
