Konnor Griffin’s promotion to Double-A Altoona topped the weekend news from the Pirates’ farm system, but the prospect pipeline produced several other notable developments as well.
Bubba Chandler, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Pirates’ top pitching prospect, continued a rough stretch on Saturday at Triple-A Indianapolis. He faced the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, allowing six hits, a season-high five walks, and four earned runs while recording five strikeouts over 94 pitches. Chandler has given up at least two earned runs in each of his last six outings and hasn’t posted a scoreless start since July 10. For the season, he’s 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA over 100 innings in 24 starts, along with 121 strikeouts to 53 walks and a 1.48 WHIP. The Pirates are hoping he can recapture the form from early 2025, when he allowed just 11 earned runs over his first 11 starts, as they look to backfill the big-league rotation after Andrew Heaney’s move to the bullpen.
Termarr Johnson, the Pirates’ No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, left a Saturday game at Altoona after taking a fastball to the hand. The Pirates have not issued an official injured list designation yet, but the setback comes on the heels of Johnson’s recent hot stretch. Over his last 10 games, he has slashed .421/.465/.605 with a 1.070 OPS, underscoring the ongoing impact he has shown at the plate when healthy.
Sammy Stafura, the Pirates’ No. 7 prospect and central piece of the Ke’Bryan Hayes trade with the Reds, kept the day moving in Greensboro’s High-A ranks by belting his first homer with the Grasshoppers on Saturday, lifting Greensboro to a 2-1 lead in the third inning against Greenville. Stafura is off to a slower start in High-A, slashing just .179/.250/.282 through 10 games, but the homer could be a sign of a springboard moment as he continues to adjust to higher levels of competition at a young age.
What these moves say about the Pirates’ system
– The organization is continuing to push talent aggressively, with Griffin’s jump to Altoona signaling confidence in his development and his readiness for higher-level competition.
– Chandler’s current struggles are a reminder that even top pitching prospects can hit rough patches; the Pirates appear intent on giving him a window to correct course as they look to add depth to the MLB rotation.
– Johnson’s injury is a setback, but his earlier performance and ongoing upside keep him squarely in the Pirates’ long-term plans. The club will monitor the injury closely and manage his return.
– Stafura’s power development and overall progress remain a watch point; the early-season numbers don’t tell the full story of his progression and the potential impact of a few early positives like Saturday’s homer.
Additional context and outlook
– The Pirates’ farm system continues to show depth across multiple levels, with multiple players contributing and moving up the ladder at a steady pace.
– If Griffin continues to adapt well to Double-A and if Chandler can regain his early-2025 form, the Pirates could harvest a more robust internal veteran-to-be pipeline to complement any external acquisitions in the coming seasons.
– Expect continued weekly updates on these and other prospects as teams assess injuries, form, and the next stages of development.
Summary
A weekend of mixed results underscored by Konnor Griffin’s big-step promotion to Altoona, with other top prospects like Bubba Chandler facing rough patches, Termarr Johnson dealing with a notable hand injury, and Sammy Stafura taking a constructive first step in High-A Greensboro. The overarching narrative remains one of a deep, developing system with upside that could influence Pittsburgh’s near- and long-term pitching and position-player depth. Positive signs persist, even as the Pirates navigate a few setbacks along the way.