Konnor Griffin’s promotion to the major leagues is set to come with a massive payday. 

The 19-year-old Pirates shortstop, who is poised to make his MLB debut during their home opener against the Orioles on Friday, is finalizing a nine-year, $140 million deal with Pittsburgh, per ESPN’s Buster Olney, who noted the sides are still at work. If and when it comes to fruition, it would become the largest guarantee made to a player before his MLB debut. 

ESPN reported Wednesday that Griffin and the Pirates began extension talks in spring training, with the teenager’s camp seeking a deal comparable to the $130 million pact Roman Anthony inked with the Red Sox last August. 

Griffin could eclipse Anthony’s post-debut extension and the $95 million deal Mariners prospect Colt Emerson signed just this week, a record for a player before his MLB debut. 

Before this year, Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio held the record for the largest guaranteed deal before debuting in the majors, signing an eight-year, $82 million pact during the 2023 Winter Meetings. 

The promotion of Griffin, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the top prospect in baseball entering 2026, provides another boost to Pittsburgh’s lineup after a busy offseason. 

The Pirates added ex-Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and second baseman Brandon Lowe, bolstering a lineup the team hopes can reach the postseason for the first time since 2015. 

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who rebounded from a rough Opening Day start against the Mets with a strong outing Wednesday against the Reds, is energized to have Griffin in the majors. 

“I’m fired up,” Skenes said Thursday during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show. “If Bucco fans needed anything else to get excited about for the home opener, they got it. It’s great. He’s super mature, he’s 19 right now, you’d never know it talking to him.“The most mature 19-year-old you’re ever going to meet in your life. The play speaks for itself, but the way he conducts himself in the locker room and off the field, it’s cool to see. He’s going to bring an energy and obviously a skill set to Pittsburgh that’s exciting.” 

Taken ninth overall by Pittsburgh in the 2024 draft out of Jackson Preparatory School in Mississippi, Griffin enjoyed a meteoric rise through the organization’s system after making his pro debut last year. 

Between three different levels in 2025, Griffin produced an eye-popping .333/.415/.527 slash line with 21 homers, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases over 122 games. 

He got off to a torrid start in spring training, including a two-homer game in late February, as he made a strong bid to crack the Opening Day roster. 

Griffin cooled off from there and began the season in Triple-A, where he hit well, notching a .438 average in five games before his call-up.