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Pirates' projected lineup for homestand after Konnor Griffin call-up news

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Pirates' projected lineup for homestand after Konnor Griffin call-up news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Pirates began their 2026 season on the road, playing three games against the New York Mets and three against the Cincinnati Reds.

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At 3-3, the Pirates come back to Pittsburgh for the first time during the 2026 MLB season, and will get to face the Baltimore Orioles for the first homestand of the year. And fortunately, as the Pirates announced, Konnor Griffin will be joining them.

With Griffin now set to join the Major League roster, the lineup construction will be very interesting for Pittsburgh. The top prospect is now up, and this projected lineup could be what the Pirates trot out for the home opener in 2026.

Pirates projected lineup for home opener after Konnor Griffin call-up

1. Oneil Cruz, Center Field
2. Brandon Lowe, Second Base
3. Bryan Reynolds, Left Field
4. Konnor Griffin, Shortstop
5. Ryan O'Hearn, Right Field
6. Marcell Ozuna, Designated Hitter
7. Jared Triolo, Third Base
8. Spencer Horwitz, First Base
9. Henry Davis, Catcher

While the exact lineup construction could look a bit different for Griffin's Major League debut, there is one thing that is set in stone: Griffin will be the starting shortstop for the Pirates for his debut and hopefully for a very long time.

He had a .749 OPS in spring training, and in five games this season in the minors before this Major League call-up, Griffin had a 1.196 OPS. He's ready for the Major Leagues and will be in the starting lineup at shortstop to begin the homestand against the Orioles.

With Griffin taking over at shortstop, the Pirates will need to move Triolo out of that spot, and could move him back to third base, and take Nick Gonzalez out of the lineup.

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But, with Triolo's bat a bit colder (.150 batting average) than Gonzalez's bat (.333 average), the Pirates could decide to keep the 26-year-old infielder in the lineup at third base over Triolo.

The Pirates' bench will look a bit different as well, likely with one of Triolo or Gonzalez on the bench following Griffin's call-up, and one of Nick Yorke or Billy Cook likely sent down to the minor leagues.

But, for the Pirates' first homestand of the 2026 season, they will have Griffin, the top prospect in all of Major League Baseball, in the lineup and starting at shortstop.

The only questions for Griffin's debut left are how they set up the infield at third base and how they structure the lineup with the superstar taking over the shortstop position.

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