Pirates Minor Leagues Recap: Konnor Griffin Flashes Five-Tool Talent
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Two weeks into the 2025 minor league season, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system has delivered some encouraging performances, with top prospects flashing their potential across all levels.
Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A)
Results & Current Record: 3-3 vs. Louisville Bats, 5-7 this season
Top Performers:
- SP Bubba Chandler: 2 GS, 8 IP, 2 ER, 14 K
- SS Liover Peguero: 10-for-18, 4 2B, 4 RBI since April 6
Notable: Top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler touched 101.5 MPH with his fastball during Sunday's start. This is the highest velocity of a pitch thrown by a starting pitcher at all levels of baseball in 2025 so far.
Bubba Chandler touched 101.5 mph yesterday 🔥🔥🔥
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 14, 2025
That’s the hardest pitch thrown by a MLB or Triple-A starting pitcher this year, equalling Hunter Greene’s velo.
(🎥 @YoungBucsPIT)
pic.twitter.com/VKhpqpt7YE
Altoona Curve (Double-A)
Results & Current Record: 2-4 vs. Akron Rubberducks, 3-6 this season
Top Performers:
- SP Hunter Barco: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 Ks in start on Thursday
- 2B Termarr Johnson: 1 HR this week, reached base three times during Sunday's game to raise his season slash line to .310/.412/.448
Notable: The Curve struck out 14 Akron hitters during their game on Thursday night, a 2-0 shutout victory.
Greensboro Grasshoppers (High-A)
Results & Current Record: 5-1 vs Winston-Salem Dash, 7-2 this season
Top Performers:
- SP Antwone Kelly: 4 IP, 0 ER, 6 K in Thursday's start
- C Omar Alfonzo: 2 HR, 3 RBI in Winston-Salem series
- 1B Esmerlyn Valdez: 1 HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI past week
- SP Garrett McMillan: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K in Saturday's start
Notable: The Grasshoppers are currently the only team in the Pirates organization with a winning record.
The Hoppers Maikol Escotto loses his cool and takes a swing at Sam Antonacci. He has been ejected. Somebody is getting a 10 game is my guess LOL. #Dash pic.twitter.com/uEBObUPhCH
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 10, 2025
Bradenton Marauders (Low-A)
Results & Current Record: 2-4 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, 3-6 this season
Top Performers:
- C Axiel Plaz: 10-for-22, 2 2B since April 8
- SS Konnor Griffin: 4-for-10, 1 HR, 1 3B, 1 SB over the weekend
Notable: Griffin's home run in the eighth inning of Friday's game broke a 5-5 tie and put the Marauders in position for a 7-5 win. The ball left Griffin's bat at 104.6 MPH.
Konnor Griffin's second week of pro ball 👀 pic.twitter.com/bYKfRj77kU
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) April 14, 2025
Player of the Week:
Konnor Griffin (BRA) – Griffin broke out in a big way during his second week of professional baseball. Besides the offensive stats listed above, Griffin also made a phenomenal sliding stop at shortstop to save a run and keep the game tied. He's beginning to show the five-tool talents that made him so attractive to Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2024 draft.
This Week:
- Indianapolis Indians: vs. Toledo (Apr 15-20)
- Altoona Curve: vs. Somerset (Apr 15-20)
- Greensboro Grasshoppers: vs. Jersey Shore (Apr 15-20)
- Bradenton Marauders: @ Fort Myers (Apr 15-20)
Ethan Merrill is from Grand Rapids, MI, and brings with him a diverse background of experiences. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, he worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks for three seasons before settling in the Pittsburgh area in 2020. With a passion for sports and a growing connection to his community, Ethan brings a fresh perspective to covering the Pittsburgh Pirates.