If you pull up any prospect ranking right now, you will usually find Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin atop that list. The shortstop’s profile and stock following the 2025 season are so high that I would question the seriousness of any list that doesn’t have him at the top. For all of the concerns that pushed him down the board in the 2024 MLB Draft, the 19-year-old Griffin has pushed past all of them with elite production to boot. The Pirates were not bashful with his promotion either, which really solidified his rise last season. It is one thing for a player to put up his numbers at one level across a season, but to not be phased while rising from Low-A to Double-A? The results are hard to question.
The Pirates fan base should have some hope heading into this season. It is easy to squint and see a competitive team with Griffin in the fold, but Pittsburgh invested (heavily, in their standards) in adding to the roster. I know the Pirates have not been a competitive team in quite some time, but look at the transaction wire and ask yourself if these are the moves of a team hoping to turn things around, or satisfied with the status quo:
- Signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal
- Signed Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year deal
- Acquired Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum, and Mason Montgomery
- Signed Gregory Soto to a one-year deal
This points to a team that, while hesitant to invest in the long term, was aggressive in giving its history and wants to compete in 2026. The NL Central is not going to be an easy path, but there is a path for the Pirates to rise from the divisional basement and into the top duo. One of the early steps on that path must include promoting Griffin early in the season while keeping pitcher Bubba Chandler on the big-league roster as well. The Pirates currently have one of the strongest farm systems, and while Griffin and Chandler graduating would hurt that strength, there is another prospect who is ready to step into the organization’s top spot. In fact, there is a real possibility he steps into the top overall spot by this time next year.
The Case for Edward Florentino
It is not an easy climb for outfielder Edward Florentino, but it wasn’t easy for Griffin as well.
A little less than half a year separates Griffin and Florentino in age, and it is hard for such a slim margin to exist between the two in prospect consideration heading into 2026. This past season was the first season stateside for both players, with Florentino starting the season on the complex after running through the Dominican Summer League at 17 years old. He wasn’t held at that level for long and eventually logged 54 games at Low-A Bradenton. The Dominican looked like he belonged more than at that level in all facets. His 16.3% whiff rate ranked in the Florida State League’s 92nd percentile, and his 28% pull-air rate ranked in the 93rd percentile. Those two stats alone correlate to overall success at the plate, but the combination is strong and irregular for such a young prospect. He so regularly pulled pitches (41.3% at Low-A) that I have little question about his hand speed or pitch recognition heading into 2026.
Baseball America reported that “the Pirates believe Florentino has plenty of room to pack on more strength,” and that is a tantalizing idea. He is listed as a somewhat lean 200 lbs. on a 6-foot-4 frame, and it is easy to wonder what a more physically mature Florentino could do at the plate. His long levers already powered him to 16 home runs and a .548 slugging percentage on the season. He has this violent follow-through that makes these swings look high effort, but somehow the bat moves as light as a matchstick.
If there is any room for improvement in Florentino’s batting ceiling, it is that raw power. While he gets the most out of his present power, his 108.8 MPH max exit velocity in Low-A ranked in the 67th percentile. That is absolutely a good spot for a prospect to be, but not if we are talking about a future top overall prospect. He does consistently get to that power, though, considering his 104.1 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity ranked in the league’s 81st percentile.
The reason Griffin rose so strongly and solidly is in part that he is a true five-tool player. I believe Florentino falls into that bucket as well. The hit and power tool have already been well established, but his speed is no slouch either. He stole 35 bases in 2025, 29 of those coming in Low-A. Again, he might not have the most powerful raw tool in the process, but he makes the most of his speed on the basepaths. According to Prospect Savant, Florentino’s 6.26 Speed score sat in the 72nd percentile, but his weighted baserunning per plate appearance (wBsR/PA) was in the 90th percentile. Florentino gets to his top speed late in the process, but strong instincts give him a good jump on stealing bases.
Dynasty managers all know how a prospect’s fielding home can change over the years, and there were concerns Florentino would shift more from center field to a corner outfield/first base profile. That could still be the future if he slows down with more additional body mass, but right now, he holds down all three outfield spots well, with most of his 2025 games coming in center. MLB Pipeline said Florentino has “looked better than expected, giving him a chance to stick up the middle,” and I have to agree. Griffin had similar positional home concern and went against the doubters in actually sticking on the infield dirt rather than being moved to the outfield.
Now, how does a player with only 132 professional games line up as a prospective top overall prospect? It is a unique blend of Florentino taking care of business in 2026, but also players ahead of him graduating. A bullish outlook on the current top prospects has several graduate in 2026. Griffin, along with Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle and Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt, hopefully carve out regular roles and Rookie of the Year campaigns. While players like Athletics‘ Leo De Vries and Brewers’ Jesús Made are higher up on prospect rankings than Florentino, I argue that the latter has one of the highest ceilings of prospects far from their big-league call. His trajectory really hinges upon his smooth transition from the complex to affiliated ball, and his arrow points towards starting the season in High-A and spending most of the season in Double-A in 2026. That hinges upon so much, like Florentino’s health, the depth chart ahead of him, and truly Florentino’s performance at the plate. But if all goes smoothly, 2026 ends with Florentino rocketing up prospect rankings and making some dynasty manager somewhere look smart.
This all comes after a season where Griffin went from a bottom-50 prospect on top 100 lists to the consensus top guy in just one year. A lot of things had to go a certain way to make that happen. Florentino is not a favorite to take that mantle if Griffin graduates, but he is a stronger candidate than many will realize. If Florentino can make this jump, managers will have to have a serious conversation about not just Pittsburgh’s ability to develop hitters, but how it could be the best development pipeline in baseball.
Oh, in case it wasn’t clear, I am buying Florentino. Buy, buy, buy.
