Pushing for a promotion: Pirates GM discusses differences for Bubba Chandler, Konnor Griffin

Ben Cherington long has maintained that the Pittsburgh Pirates would prefer if their prospects forced promotions with their performance rather through public pressure.

The Pirates general manager dealt with both circumstances this past week with the organization’s top two prospects, as 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin made his Double-A debut in Altoona and 22-year-old right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his major-league debut.

Griffin is considered the consensus top prospect in baseball, and Chandler is the top pitching prospect. Where Griffin did so faster than expected by dominating at Low-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro, Chandler’s debut came months later than anticipated.

After starting 83 of his 89 games in the minors, Chandler began out of the bullpen and became the first player in MLB history to toss four scoreless innings and earn a save in his debut.

“It is no secret that he got off to a great start in Triple-A and then went through some challenges in Triple-A the last couple of months,” Cherington said Sunday. “We got concerned at some point that if we wait for some stretch of perfection, we might see the clock run out and miss that opportunity. That was in our mind.”

One point Cherington emphasized is that the difference for top prospects when they reach Triple-A is that decisions are forced down because a roster spot must open for a call-up to the majors, whereas a Class A prospect can press for a promotion by performing at a high level.

Griffin did just that, as the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder batted a combined .332/.414/.524 with 21 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 72 RBIs, 97 runs scored and 59 stolen bases in 101 games split between Bradenton and Greensboro. Cherington said he couldn’t have predicted that Griffin, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, would make such a rapid rise in his first full professional season.

“I wouldn’t have had it. I wouldn’t have guessed it. I wouldn’t have put my money on it, but he’s earned it,” Cherington said. “We decided that whatever happened in Double-A the rest of the way would be better than finishing out the year in High-A.”

Griffin is getting a chance to play with Oneil Cruz, who is in Altoona on a rehabilitation assignment after recovering from a concussion, and giving the Pirates a glimpse of the near future. Cruz hit a triple to drive in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and Griffin followed with an RBI single in the 4-2 win over Reading on Saturday night.

“The middle of the field was pretty cool: Konnor, Termarr (Johnson), Omar Alfonzo and Oneil in center,” Cherington said, noting that Cruz is expected to join the Pirates in St. Louis on Monday if there are no complications. “There was a lot of talent last night in Altoona.”

As for Chandler’s immediate future, Cherington emphasized that the feedback will determine whether he will be in consideration for a spot in the starting rotation next season. Chandler still has a chance to start games this season, but that is a role to be earned, which he said is consistent with how the Pirates handled other rookie right-handers such as Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Thomas Harrington this season.

“He can earn it, for sure,” Cherington said. “It’s not going to be guaranteed, like it would for anybody, but we were open with him that this is the role now. It doesn’t mean you can’t earn starts at some point, whether that’s September or whatever. We’ll let Donnie guide that going forward. Trying to keep him in the same mindset that we’re trying to keep all those young pitchers in. When it’s their turn to pitch, get outs. Get as many outs as you can until Donnie comes and takes the ball away from you. Help the team win, then we’ll plan for the next one.”