The Pittsburgh Pirates have reassigned top prospect Konnor Griffin to minor league spring training camp.

Konnor Griffin truly stood out in this year's spring training, displaying exceptional talent and a level of maturity that surpassed expectations for his age. Yet, the Pirates, who have always stressed prioritizing Griffin's long-term growth and optimal planning, faced a difficult choice following today's matchup with the Blue Jays, opting to assign the 19-year-old shortstop to the minor league spring training camp.

Manager Don Kelly announced this news in the media room at LECOM Park after the team's 8-3 victory. Griffin hit three home runs in his first six spring training games, but his performance declined over the next ten games, recording only 4 hits in 27 at-bats with a .148 batting average, contributing one home run, two walks, and 11 strikeouts. Across 16 spring training games, his overall batting average was .171 with an OPS of .749.

“He didn't do anything wrong,” Kelly said. “He's just a young kid, maybe a bit anxious, wanting to perform well too eagerly. Griffin himself is an outstanding individual. Letting him go down to revisit fundamentals and return to his natural self is the right move. We know he possesses top-tier talent and look forward to his eventual return to Pittsburgh someday.”

This decision was not easy, as this top prospect in baseball has already demonstrated immense potential. Before the reassignment, Griffin's four home runs and nine RBIs tied for first on the team, while he also exhibited excellent speed and solid defense. This move should alleviate some pressure on Griffin, whose every action this spring training was closely watched. Moreover, this isn't a final verdict; the team had previously discussed a long-term extension with him, and the door remains open.

With Griffin's reassignment and the earlier demotion of Tyler Callihan, the Pirates' 40-man roster now includes only three players with experience playing on the left side of the infield: Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, and Nick Yorke. Alika Williams, capable of playing multiple positions with high defensive value and showing improved hitting in spring training, was also reassigned to the minor league spring training camp.

Triolo has shown solid performance in spring training with a .270 batting average and .719 OPS, being the best defender among the three. Gonzales is one of the standout hitters in spring training, batting .357, but he has rarely played shortstop in the majors. Yorke has been a surprise for the Pirates, leading the team with 44 at-bats and hitting .250, contributing one triple, one home run, and four RBIs.

Without further adjustments, based on experience, Triolo and Gonzales are likely to make the roster in some form, while Yorke would serve in a backup role.

The Pirates approached Griffin's decision carefully, giving him the third-most plate appearances in the spring training camp. However, both General Manager Ben Cherington and Kelly stated that the team would prioritize his development over other considerations. Although Griffin advanced quickly through the minors last year, he only had 98 plate appearances at Double-A and has no Triple-A experience yet.

“It was very tough,” Kelly said regarding the decision. “This kid played shortstop in his first major league spring training… The talent he displayed and how he handled everything were very professional. We've been talking about the maturity of this 19-year-old in a major league spring training camp. I'm excited about him being part of the Pirates and what this means for Griffin's future and the Pirates' future.”

Griffin wasn't the only roster move by the Pirates today. The team also reassigned Jhostynxon Garcia and Tyler Callihan to Triple-A.

Garcia was acquired from the Red Sox in the trade for John Oviedo on December 4, 2025, when he was considered one of the top 100 prospects. Garcia led the team in spring training with 15 hits, batting .405 with an OPS of 1.058. The issue is that the outfield spots are full, with Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, and Ryan O'Hearn occupying starting positions, and Jake Mangum set to receive regular playing time as the fourth outfielder, including defensive substitutions late in games. Garcia needs consistent playing time, which cannot be guaranteed on the major league roster.

Garcia spent most of 2025 in the minors, playing 114 games at Double-A and Triple-A with a .256 batting average, 17 doubles, 4 triples, 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, and an OPS of .810, leading the Red Sox minor league system in home runs, total bases, and runs scored. Garcia played 5 games for the Red Sox last year, with 1 hit in 7 at-bats.

Callihan was acquired from the Reds in the trade for Kyle Nicolas on March 4, when he was the Reds' No. 19 prospect. In spring training, Callihan primarily played second and third base, batting .211 in 9 games with 19 at-bats and an OPS of .716. After hitting a home run and contributing two hits in a game against the Tigers on March 18, he mentioned making some minor adjustments to his swing and feeling good about his form. Now he will continue to develop at Triple-A Indianapolis.

The 25-year-old Callihan made his major league debut with the Reds last season, recording 1 hit in 6 at-bats over four games, before suffering a severe left forearm fracture from colliding with an outfield wall, which required three surgeries.