May 14, 2026 – The Pittsburgh Pirates officially removed Konnor Griffin from their top‑prospect slate, according to The Sporting News. The club said the shift reflects lingering developmental gaps that keep Griffin from a major‑league call‑up this season.
The numbers reveal that Griffin’s swing still struggles against higher‑level velocity, while 19‑year‑old right‑hander Seth Hernandez is posting a sub‑one ERA in High‑A Greensboro. That contrast forced the front office to reorder its pipeline and may stir trade chatter before the July deadline.
What prompted the Pirates to re‑rank Griffin?
Scouting reports highlighted Griffin’s inconsistent plate discipline and difficulty recognizing off‑speed pitches, prompting the club to elevate Hernandez, who logged a 0.96 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 28 innings. Hernandez’s WHIP sits at a tidy .95, underscoring his command at the High‑A level.
How does the new prospect hierarchy look?
Seth Hernandez now occupies the No. 1 slot, while the club eyes Made, a switch‑hitting speedster, as the next breakout candidate. Made’s sprint speed tops 30 ft/s, mirroring Griffin’s early hype, but Pittsburgh hopes he can translate minor‑league dominance into a faster promotion timeline.
Seth Hernandez’s breakout performance
Seth Hernandez, the 19‑year‑old right‑hander from Greensboro, has become the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s rebuilding narrative. Over 28 innings he struck out 50 batters, yielding a K/9 rate of 16.1 and a WHIP of .95, numbers that rank him among the elite High‑A pitchers this season. The numbers also show his spin rate averaging 2,250 rpm, a metric that correlates with increased swing‑and‑miss potential. The front office brass sees Hernandez as a possible trade chip, adding leverage to their long‑term roster construction.
Konnor Griffin’s next steps
Konnor Griffin will likely return to Low‑A to sharpen contact quality and improve his strikeout‑to‑walk ratio, which sat at 1.8 last season. In 2024 Griffin posted a .242 average with 12 homers across Low‑A, but his BB/9 of 5.4 signaled lingering control issues. The club will monitor advanced metrics such as launch angle and spin rate as he works to close the gap with his peers.
Key Developments
- Griffin was removed from the top‑prospect list on May 14, 2026 after an internal review.
- Seth Hernandez’s 0.96 ERA and 50 K in 28 IP place him among the best High‑A arms this season.
- The scouting department cited plate discipline and off‑speed pitch recognition as areas needing work for Griffin.
- Made, the club’s newest speedster, is projected to debut in Double‑A by season’s end, potentially challenging Griffin for a roster spot.
- The front office framed the move as a strategic reshuffle, not a demotion, to align development timelines.
When did Griffin first top the Pirates’ prospect rankings?
Griffin first claimed the No. 1 spot on the Pirates’ internal list in early 2023 and held it for two full seasons before the May 2026 reassessment.
What specific skills does Griffin need to improve?
Scouts pinpointed his struggle with off‑speed pitches, inconsistent plate discipline, and a high walk rate as the primary hurdles to major‑league readiness.
How does Hernandez’s performance compare statistically to Griffin’s at the same level?
Hernandez boasts a sub‑1.00 ERA, 1.79 K/9 and a .95 WHIP in High‑A, while Griffin recorded a 3.45 ERA, 5.2 K/9 and a 1.42 WHIP in Low‑A last season, illustrating the shift in organizational confidence.