Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects Bubba Chandler (No. 1/MLB No. 15) and Thomas Harrington (No. 3/MLB No. 79) are waiting in the wings.
Yet the next glittering prospect starting on his way to Steel City will take another road as a position player, and Konnor Griffin (No. 2/MLB No. 43), the ninth overall pick and the first high-schooler off the board in last year’s Draft, may already be well ahead of the curve.
Pittsburgh extended a non-roster invite to Griffin in his first Spring Training, months before his 19th birthday, to make him one of the youngest players in a 2025 Major League camp.
The right-handed slugger held his own in limited looks, going 2-for-9 with a pair of strikeouts over eight game appearances. But the clear highlight was his homer on March 1 off Orioles right-hander Brandon Young, a hurler with Triple-A experience. The pitch was a 93 mph fastball on the outside corner that Griffin drove the other way to right-center, thus showcasing the plus power potential that made him a Top 10 pick in the first place.
Watch Griffin on any diamond, and such tools are obvious. There’s that pop in his 6-foot-4 frame, but he’s also a borderline plus-plus runner with a bazooka arm. What stood out more during that Spring Training run was what happened behind the scenes, with Pirates officials reporting that the club’s top position player prospect was a sponge for information on the MLB side of Bradenton.
“The ingredients that he has, that's what we're betting on,” said Pittsburgh director of coaching and player development Michael Chernow. “Seeing these other characteristics of who he is and who he's growing into as a man really makes it something that we're excited about.”
There were some concerns about length in Griffin’s swing coming out of the Draft, but while he irons that out, his defensive development will draw a lot of intrigue, too. The Bucs have made it clear they intend to prioritize Griffin’s time at shortstop first and sprinkle in some center field to give him another option up the middle.
But don’t expect a set weekly schedule out of the gate, like four days per week at short and two in center. Griffin could spend whole weeks on the dirt if the Pirates decide he didn’t get enough balls hit to him in one stretch. Other times, he could get more time on the grass to stretch his legs.
The only thing set at this time in Spring Training is that both the infield and outfield coordination groups want to get their hands on arguably the system’s best athlete. His diving catch in left-center on Tuesday will only add fuel to that fiery tug of war.
“He takes it so seriously that you see him make plays at shortstop that give you a little bit where you can dream a little bit,” Chernow said, “And then you see him track stuff down the outfield, and you can dream there too. … You just want him to go out and compete and learn the game and let his natural gifts dictate the rest.”
Those raw tools already have generated plenty of buzz in all corners of Bradenton as Griffin works to fit himself into the hitting development apparatus of a Pirates farm system that, to this point, has a clear strength on the mound.
“What we’re really trying to encourage from the Major League level all the way down is keep the line moving,” Chernow said. “Team offense is such a priority because we have really good pitching, and we want to make sure that we're doing the little things that are going to help us win games.”
Something to prove: Termarr Johnson
Let’s be clear, this isn’t a make-or-break year for Johnson (PIT No. 4) by any means. The 2022 fourth overall pick is still only 20 years old and already has Double-A experience. He’s ahead of most curves.
But the 5-foot-9 infielder was expected to be a potential plus-plus hitter in pro ball and, instead, enters his third full season with a career .239 average. He’s stood out more for his .390 OBP, but his willingness to sell out for pull side power has brought pause to his profile. He’s slipped to No. 82 in Pipeline’s Top 100 and could slide out completely if results don’t come with more authority in his age-21 season.
The Pirates continue to take the long view, knowing they’ve been aggressive with Johnson to this point. They see 2025 as an opportunity for him to show how much he’s learned and how well he can adjust as he strives to return to the form that made him such an exciting Draft prospect three years ago.
“He has a chance to be a complete hitter because he has those traits at such a young age,” Chernow said. “Learning what the game is offering, learning how he's being attacked, and understanding how to navigate an at-bat are some areas where we've seen him consistently grow. He's certainly going to be challenged this year with it, and I feel like he's in a good spot to take on that challenge.”
Breakout potential: Estuar Suero
The Pirates’ No. 25 prospect was acquired from the Padres in 2023 as part of the Rich Hill/Ji-Man Choi swap but has yet to play above the complex levels. A broken hamate affected him most recently in '24, and he finished with just a .213/.318/.307 line in 25 games.
But with that issue behind him, Suero could take off in his age-19 season. The outfielder stands at 6-foot-6, hits from both sides and earns above-average grades for his run tool. The individual pieces are there for a standout prospect, and improved hand health will mean more reps, which the Pirates hope will mean an improved contact rate that could help Suero jump up prospect rankings this summer.
“When a guy has the type of ability that he has and the collection of tools and traits, once he starts figuring it out, we expect the performance will follow thereafter,” Chernow said.
Camp standout: Sammy Siani
Siani dropped his strikeout rate from 31.7 percent at High-A Greensboro in '23 to 18.9 percent between there and Double-A Altoona last summer thanks to a flatter bat path. He carried that success into the Arizona Fall League, where he was a Fall Star thanks to a .375/.457/.550 line over 92 additional plate appearances.
The brother of Cardinals centerfielder Michael Siani, the 37th overall pick in 2019 was left unprotected and unpicked in last year’s Rule 5 Draft, but the Philadelphia native hasn’t slowed down this spring at Pirate City. His above-average speed gives him the chance to play all three outfield spots, and he could put that and his improved offense on display as a Spring Breakout participant Friday against the Phillies.
“He’s put the work in, and there's momentum going,” Chernow said. “Now he has an opportunity to participate in this game against his hometown team. We wanted to reward that, and from our perspective, try and continue the momentum and see where this year goes.”
Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Returns to Fayetteville July 3rd
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team returns to Segra Stadium on Thursday, July 3rd as part of USA Baseball’s annual Stars vs. Stripes series. First pitch for the Stars & Stripes game in downtown Fayetteville is slated for 6:35 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Postgame fireworks will conclude
Segra Stadium to Host 'One Ville' Exhibition April 2nd
Segra Stadium will play host to the ‘One Ville’ exhibition on Wednesday, April 2nd, which will feature the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Low-A, Houston Astros) matching up against the Asheville Tourists (High-A, Houston Astros) in a preseason tune-up before each team starts their respective seasons. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.
Woodpeckers Announce 2025 Promotional Schedule
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers announced their 2025 promotional schedule for their sixth season of play at Segra Stadium. Individual tickets will go on sale to the public in-person at our free Spring Fling event on Saturday, March 1st from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets will be available online later that
Fayetteville Woodpeckers Announce 2025 Coaching Staff
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, in conjunction with the Houston Astros, today announced their 2025 coaching staff and have named Carlos Lugo as the newest manager of the club. Making up the rest of Lugo’s staff will be pitching coach James Wiseman, hitting coach Kyle Brennan, and development coach
ECU Baseball Returns to Segra Stadium March 4th & 18th
East Carolina University baseball returns to Segra Stadium for two games this March. The first game will be on Tuesday, March 4th when ECU takes on the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs of the Big South. The second game will take place Tuesday, March 18th when ECU faces off against UNC Wilmington
Meet Bluey at Segra Stadium with Woodpeckers Newest Experience Add-On
Everybody’s favorite Australian pup, Bluey, is coming to Segra Stadium for Bluey at the Ballpark on Sunday, June 29th. While Bluey will be available throughout the game to meet as many fans as possible, the Woodpeckers have announced an Experience Add-On that guarantees your chance to meet Bluey. This add-on
Woodpeckers Announce Additions to Front Office Staff
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers announced today several front office staff additions as the team prepares for the 2025 season at Segra Stadium. Will Champion and Shai Szkolnik join as Ticket Sales Account Executives while Dustin Jessee and Noah Bard will fill roles in the stadium operations department. Champion
2025 Woodpeckers Fireworks Shows Announced
Today, the Woodpeckers announced their fireworks dates for 2025 totaling eight shows, including Opening Night and July 4th & 5th. In addition to the three mentioned, a new show lineup called ‘Fireworks Extravaganza’ will make its debut and will feature bigger and better shows once a month for fans to
Fayetteville Holiday Lights Returns To Segra Stadium November 29th
The 4th annual Fayetteville Holiday Lights returns to Segra Stadium starting November 29th and will run daily until December 23rd. The 26-day event will feature more than 2 million lights, over a dozen large displays, the largest light-up Christmas tree in Fayetteville at 40 feet, light shows, Santa, holiday themed
Woodpeckers Announce Start Times for 2025 Regular Season
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers announced their start times for the 2025 campaign, which will have a familiar feel to them. The club will start Tuesday through Thursday games at 6:35 p.m., Friday & Saturday games at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday games at 5:05 p.m. There will be a few exceptions to
Woodpeckers to Watch for in the MLB Postseason
The Houston Astros are back in the postseason for an eighth consecutive season and begin their run towards a World Series title on Tuesday afternoon in a best-of-three American League Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers. Six former Fayetteville Woodpeckers are on the Astros postseason roster with details below:
Woodpeckers 2024 Season Recap
SEASON OVERVIEW: The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Single-A, Houston Astros) finished their fifth season in franchise history with a 55-75 overall record, an identical win mark to the 2021 and 2022 season and tied for the fewest wins in a single year. Fayetteville broke out to its best start in franchise history,
Woodpeckers End 2024 Season with Fan Appreciation Night
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (55-75, 25-38 2nd Half) welcomed fans inside of Segra Stadium for the final ballgame of the 2024 season on Sunday night and dropped an 8-0 shutout to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (62-67, 33-30). Myrtle Beach took control of the game with a four-run top
Bush Homers Twice as Woodpeckers Take Series Lead from Pelicans
FAYETTEVILLE, NC – It was a signature night for catcher Will Bush in front of a big Saturday crowd at Segra Stadium. The 2023 Houston Astros 16th round pick belted a pair of two-run homers and drove in five runs to lead the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (55-74, 26-37) to an 11-5
Luis Rodriguez Spins Complete Game Shutout in Doubleheader Split
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (54-74, 25-37 2nd Half) and Myrtle Beach Pelicans (61-66, 32-29 2nd Half) squared off in a doubleheader Friday night in a makeup of Monday’s postponed contest. Fayetteville dropped the opener 8-6 and saw Luis Rodriguez spin a complete game shutout in the nightcap for
Woodpeckers End Skid on Walk Off Balk
Fayetteville, NC - A scoreless tie carried into the bottom of the tenth inning on Thursday night until the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (60-65, 31-28 2nd Half) balked home the winning run to grant the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (53-73, 24-36 2nd Half) a 1-0 victory at Segra Stadium. The victory ended an
Woodpeckers Swept by Charleston, Drop Tenth Consecutive Game
CHARLESTON, SC – A frustrating week on the road came to a close Sunday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Stadium as the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-72, 23-35) were unable to emerge victorious in their series finale with the Charleston RiverDogs (64-59, 37-21). Charleston defeated the Woodpeckers by a 6-2 final
Ochoa Homers as Fayetteville Falls for Sixth Straight Game
CHARLESTON, SC – Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hammered his team-leading tenth home run of the season Wednesday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark to give the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-68, 23-31) an early advantage. However, the Charleston RiverDogs (60-59, 33-21) rallied to take home a 8-4 win and hand the Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers Can’t Solve RiverDogs’ Pitching, Drop Fifth Straight
CHARLESTON, SC – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-67, 23-30) were stifled by the Charleston RiverDogs (59-59, 32-21) in Tuesday night’s series opener at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park as the Woodpeckers fell by a final score of 7-1. The win for Charleston snaps a five-game losing streak against Fayetteville while the
Series Slips Away in Sunday Loss to Kannapolis
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-66, 23-29 2nd Half) dropped their fourth straight game to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (64-56, 23-31 2nd Half) in Sunday series conclusion, surrendering five runs in the top of the fourth and trailing the rest of the way in a 9-2 final. Bryce Mayer
Fayetteville Falls in Third Straight to Kannapolis
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-65, 23-28) fell behind in the middle innings on Saturday night to the Kanapolis Cannonballers (63-56, 22-31 2nd Half) and never recovered in a 5-1 defeat at Segra Stadium. Starters Ricardo Brizuela (W, 3-0) and Luis Rodriguez (L, 1-1) kept the game without a
Woodpeckers Fall to Ballers in 11-Inning Fight
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-64, 23-26 2nd Half) played into the eleventh inning for just the second time all season, falling to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (62-56, 21-31 2nd Half) 9-6 on Friday night at Segra Stadium. A two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth when trailing
Oatmilkers Let Lead Slip in Loss to Cannon Ballers
Fayetteville, NC - The Malmo Oat Milkers (52-63, 23-26 2nd Half) lost their grip on a 5-1 lead Thursday night as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (61-56, 20-31 2nd Half) scored seven unanswered runs at one point to steal the game 8-6 at Segra Stadium. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers changed their identity
Huge Six-Run Inning Vaults Fayetteville to Victory
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-62, 23-25 2nd Half) used a huge six-run bottom of the third inning Wednesday night to secure a convincing 7-3 victory over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (60-56, 19-31 2nd Half) at Segra Stadium. Fayetteville trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the third prior
Woodpeckers Score Four Unanswered in Comeback Win Over Cannon Ballers
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (51-62. 22-25 2nd Half) stormed back against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (60-55, 19-30 2nd Half) on Tuesday night scoring four unanswered runs to secure the series opener 6-5 at Segra Stadium. The comeback started when trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.