PIRATES OPEN SERIES IN CINCY, GRIFFIN IS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Pirates open their next-to-last series of the season tonight, visiting the Reds.  Greg Brown has a preview.

Manager Donnie Kelly will use Paul Skenes tomorrow night, probably making his final start of the season, matched up against Reds ace Hunter Greene.  Braxton Ashcraft will throw for the Bucs on Thursday.

GRIFFIN NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR

19-year-old Konnor Griffin has been named Baseball America’s 2025 Minor League Player of the Year following a season in which he advanced from Low-A Bradenton, through High-A Greensboro, and all the way to AA Altoona.  Along the way he hit .333 with 21 home runs, 23 doubles, four triples, and 94 RBIs.  And he stole 65 bases.  He’s the only player in the last twenty years to bat .300 or higher, hit twenty or more homers, steal 60-plus bases, and score more than 100 runs.