This time last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm system was considered middle of the road, coming in 14th in MLB Pipeline's preseason rankings. By midseason, the Pirates had broken into the top-10 —coming in ninth — thanks in large part to Konnor Griffin's massive pro debut.
Griffin is now the No. 1 prospect in baseball, the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year, and a primary reason why the Pirates have shot up to No. 3 in the 2026 preseason ranking.
There might be some concern, then, that if Griffin makes the Opening Day roster (or is up soon after) and when Bubba Chandler — one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball — graduates from prospect status, the system might come crashing down.