Pittsburgh Pirates, Konnor Griffin Agree on 9-Year Contract Extension

It’s official. Konnor Griffin is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ shortstop of the present and future.

In a statement released by the Pirates on April 8 about locking up Griffin in his baseball prime for a reported $140 million, club ownership believes this move will bring better days at PNC Park sooner rather than later.

“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.

“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.”

At the well-attended press conference at the Pirates’ home ballpark, along with media representatives, Griffin’s family members, and his teammates were present.

As a show of support and appreciation of Griffin’s talents and anticipated good times for the franchise, beginning with this season, if there was any doubt that the young shortstop needed to earn his stripes as one of them, that box has been checked.

Griffin is confident that over time, he will live up to the enormous financial commitment made in him.

The 19-year-old had one year of minor league ball behind him, and just five games earlier this season at Triple-A Indianapolis before getting called up in time for the Pirates’ home opener on April 3.

Griffin will share the weight of the club’s future with pitching sensation Paul Skenes, and is “all in” on helping Pittsburgh return to the postseason.

“I see a winning organization here,” Griffin said.

“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 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.”

To anyone who observed Griffin since he was drafted by the Pirates No. 1 in 2024, it was clear that the Mississippi native is a rare and special baseball talent. Scouts have pegged Griffin a five-tool player, an elite athlete.

Hitting for average, hitting with power, speed on the base paths and in the field, processing incredible throwing arm strength, and exceptional in fielding are the baseball boxes Griffin completes.

While beginning 2025 with Single-A Bradenton, Florida, Griffin shuttled to a higher Single-A level at Greensboro, N.C., and after 101 games, Griffin was dispatched to Double-A Altoona (Pa.) of the Eastern League.

His performance at the three levels of baseball skills was off the charts. Griffin collected 23 doubles, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, and 65 stolen bases. Going into this past off-season, there was no doubt that the Pirates potentially had the “second coming” of Mike Trout. Finding a way to bring him to the MLB in 2026 and signing Griffin long-term were among Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington’s top priorities.

Cherington told MLB.com on Wednesday why it was important to come to an agreement with Griffin now and keep him with the club for what could be the best years of his career.

“Since the day Konnor signed, he has not only met every challenge that has been put in front of him from a baseball perspective, a skill development perspective, but he’s done that in a way that has always been about the team, putting the team first, representing himself and his family, the organization in the most first-class manner,” Cherington said.

“He has earned trust throughout that.”

There is confidence in his game and maturity in his growth away from the clubhouse that set Griffin apart from his contemporaries.

When arriving for spring training at Pirate City two months ago, Griffin made it clear, albeit in a most respectful manner, that he hopes to be a Hall of Famer someday. Most 19-year-olds wouldn’t dare think or say that a plaque in Cooperstown is in their future.

Griffin also arrived in Bradenton, married to his sweetheart since the eighth grade, Dendy Hogan. Learning together to be adults, attending church services on Sunday, avoiding alcohol and cursing, the Griffins are the dream couple in-laws hope for.

In March, Phillip Wellman, who was managing Pittsburgh’s group, compared Griffin to San Diego Padres superstar outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. Wellman, with his four decades of tutoring draft picks, walk-ons, and prospects, knows elite talent when he sees it. There was no hesitation in his voice when declaring Griffin “special.”

The Pirates are off to an exciting start this season. Going into this weekend series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Pittsburgh is 7–5, and only one game out of first place in the National League Central.

With each game of the Pirates’ 162-game schedule, Griffin will be learning and improving, becoming a silent leader by example on the diamond, and, along the way, bringing hope to a fan base desperate to experience October baseball again.