High Class A Greensboro’s Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez are included on the National League roster for this year’s All-Star Futures Game, which will be held July 12 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Griffin is the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates' system and the No. 31-ranked prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, after being selected in the first round of last year's draft. Between low Class A Bradenton and Greensboro, Griffin has found immediate success at the professional level, slashing .343/.412/.554 with a .956 OPS in 67 games. He's hit for power with 12 home runs, showcased his run-producing abilities with 48 RBIs and put his speed on display with 37 stolen bases. His stat line also includes 15 doubles and 67 runs scored.
Earlier this month in Greenville, S.C., Griffin told our Greg Macafee that earning his way onto the roster for the Futures Game was one of goals for this season: "For the rest of the year, I really don’t try to think where I’m going to be, I try to be in the moment," Griffin said. "I try to take it week by week. I set goals week by week because if you do it the whole year, that’s a lot of games under your belt and anything can change. So just try to go week-by-week. One of my biggest goals that I had at the beginning of the year was try to make the Futures Game in Atlanta. So that’s a big one of mine. I know that’s coming up in about a month so gotta keep playing hard and see what happens there."
Valdez is tied for second among all full-season minor league players with 20 home runs, while also ranking third in total bases (164), tied for third in extra-base hits (39) and eighth in slugging (.592). Valdez leads the South Atlantic League in batting average (.303), hits (84), home runs, RBIs (57), slugging, OPS (.977), extra-base hits and total bases, while also ranking tied for first in doubles (18) and tied for fourth in runs scored (46).
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THE ASYLUM
José Negron
3:24 pm - 06.30.2025DowntownGriffin, Valdez named to Futures Game roster
High Class A Greensboro’s Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez are included on the National League roster for this year’s All-Star Futures Game, which will be held July 12 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Griffin is the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates' system and the No. 31-ranked prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, after being selected in the first round of last year's draft. Between low Class A Bradenton and Greensboro, Griffin has found immediate success at the professional level, slashing .343/.412/.554 with a .956 OPS in 67 games. He's hit for power with 12 home runs, showcased his run-producing abilities with 48 RBIs and put his speed on display with 37 stolen bases. His stat line also includes 15 doubles and 67 runs scored.
Earlier this month in Greenville, S.C., Griffin told our Greg Macafee that earning his way onto the roster for the Futures Game was one of goals for this season: "For the rest of the year, I really don’t try to think where I’m going to be, I try to be in the moment," Griffin said. "I try to take it week by week. I set goals week by week because if you do it the whole year, that’s a lot of games under your belt and anything can change. So just try to go week-by-week. One of my biggest goals that I had at the beginning of the year was try to make the Futures Game in Atlanta. So that’s a big one of mine. I know that’s coming up in about a month so gotta keep playing hard and see what happens there."
Valdez is tied for second among all full-season minor league players with 20 home runs, while also ranking third in total bases (164), tied for third in extra-base hits (39) and eighth in slugging (.592). Valdez leads the South Atlantic League in batting average (.303), hits (84), home runs, RBIs (57), slugging, OPS (.977), extra-base hits and total bases, while also ranking tied for first in doubles (18) and tied for fourth in runs scored (46).
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