The Pittsburgh Pirates’ tentative 2026 rotation includes several of the best young pitchers in the game. Soon, several of the Pirates’ best position player prospects will join them. Konnor Griffin and Termarr Johnson will fight for roster spots this spring as non-roster invites, as the two are among seven who were confirmed for big league camp on January 16.
The prospects
Konnor Griffin will look to take the Pirates’ shortstop job in camp after a terrific 2025 season in the Minors.
The 19-year-old Griffin had an incredible first season as a pro. Between three levels (A, A+, and AA), Griffin slashed .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs, 48 extra-base hits, and 65 stolen bases.
Griffin stormed through all three levels, including in Double-A. The former first-round pick hit five home runs and seven total extra-base hits over 21 games. There was some swing-and-miss (29.8% Whiff) with Altoona but it wasn’t egregious.
The Pirates don’t have a clear option at short currently on the 40-man roster. Enmanuel Valdez and Nick Yorke have virtually no experience at short professionally. Jared Triolo, who has played the role of utilityman throughout his MLB career, played 47 games at short last season. Nick Gonzales, a true second baseman, started 12 games at short in 2025.
Termarr Johnson will yet again be a non-roster invite. The 21-year-old Johnson slashed .272/.363/.382 with nine home runs and 27 extra-base hits over 119 games. His 11.7% wasn’t as high as the one he produced in 2024 (15.6%) between High-A and Double-A but still above 10%.
Johnson didn’t hit for as much power in 2025. The good thing to take away was that he was active on the basepaths (20 stolen bases) and ranked in the top-10 in total pitches taken among Eastern League players. Less than 30% of the pitches he took in 2025 were not called strikes, impressive given that every other player among the top-10 in that category ranked anywhere from 31-37%.
Additionally, the Pirates are bringing catchers Omar Alfonzo and Shawn Ross, plus infielder Duce Gourson.
Alfonzo hit 14 home runs and 33 extra-base hits last season between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. Ross slashed .174/.285/.295 with five home runs and 15 extra-base hits last season between Double-A and Triple-A. The 26-year-old Ross hit 23 home runs in 2024 with Greensboro.
Gourson, a ninth-round pick out of UCLA in 2024, slashed .275/.370/.439 with 10 home runs and 33 extra-base hits over 95 games, split between High-A and Double-A. The 23-year-old infielder also stole 31 total bases.
Other notables
Former MLB pitchers Noah Davis and Chris Devenski were also named as non-roster invites.
Davis, who pitched in parts of four MLB seasons, split last year between the Dodgers’ and Twins’ organizations. The right-hander struck out 54 over 48.2 IP in Triple-A last season.
Devenski, an All-Star back in 2017, posted a 2.16 ERA and struck out 14 over 16.1 IP with the Mets last season.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at who the Astros invited for 2026 Spring Training.