Minor-league top performers: Mike Burrows two start week, Konnor Griffin, Axiel Plaz

The top performers over the past week in the Pirates' system

Photo Credit: WTM

Another week in the books for the minor league affiliates, the first with a full slate of games from the Florida Complex League teams. A handful of players from the FCL were considered here but ultimately just missed out.

With me in Bradenton last week, I was up close for some of the top performances, so I was able to add some videos here.

Here’s a look at some of the top performers from the past week in the Pirates’ organization.

Top Hitters

Konnor Griffin

Last Week: .409/.435/.591, 6 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, 2/2 SB

This Season: .282/.341/.504, 26 R, 6 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 6 BB, 36 K, 13/17 SB

After a 0-4 start to the week last Tuesday, Konnor Griffin picked up nine hits over his next 18 at-bats. On May 9, he went 4-4, including a home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning. For good measure, he was plunked his fifth time up, even adding to the on-base percentage.

Axiel Plaz

Last Week: .400/.412/.733, 5 R, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, BB, 3 K

This Season: .310/.397/.470, 14 R, 7 2B, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 10 BB, 18 K

This was a tough decision, as I didn’t want all three hitters to be from Bradenton. So I had to decide between Axiel Plaz and Braylon Bishop, who also had a solid week against Lakeland.

Plaz has made better contact without sacrificing how hard he has been hitting the ball, and now it’s starting to show up in the box score. He hit a no-doubter early in the week and then a bases-clearing double later.

Javier Rivas

Last Week: .320/.370/.440, 4 R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K

This Season: .310/.357/.543, 19 R, 4 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 6 BB, 29 K, 1/1 SB

Javier Rivas continues to collect hits, picking up eight more this past week for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, including a double and a triple. Greensboro came away with a big series win on the road against Hub City, and Rivas was a big reason behind it.

Top Pitchers

Mike Burrows

Last Week: 2/2, 1-1, 0.93 ERA, 9.2 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 18 K

This Season: 1-1, 2.63 ERA, 27.1 IP, 18 H, 8 ER, 10 BB, 36 IP

Mike Burrows made two starts this past week, and somehow found a way to one-up his Tuesday performance (5 IP, ER, 7 K) on Sunday, where he added another 11 punch outs to his total.

That gave him 18 strikeouts—compared to two walks—over 9.2 innings pitched in a single week. Those 18 strikeouts accounts for half of his season total in Triple-A in 2025.

Khristian Curtis

Last Week: 2/2, 0-1, 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 10 K

This Season: 0-3, 8.41 ERA, 20.1 IP, 29 H, 19 ER, 12 BB, 21 K

Khristian Curtis allowed just one earned run over two starts, but still finished the week 0-1. He allowed one run over five innings, striking out seven on Tuesday but was still tagged with the loss.

He wrapped the week up with two shutout innings, striking out another three on Sunday. It’s been a rough start to the season for Curtis, but the stuff is still able to shine through at times.

Clevari Tejada

Last Week: GS, 1-0, 5 IP, H, HB, 5 K

This Season: 1-3, 4.43 ERA, 22.1 IP, 19 H, 11 ER, 9 BB, 21 K

After hitting a batter in the first inning (which was erased on a double play), Clevari Tejada didn’t allow another baserunner until the fifth, the only hit he surrendered. He mixed his pitches well, and ended up with his best start of the season.

Tejada has shown flashes this season, and has shown at least enough to remain intriguing down in the lower levels.

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