Konnor

Griffin

Griffin’s first hit was pounded right into the ground, but that was his only ball in play that wasn’t hit hard tonight. He had a 98-mph flyout, a 106-mph double-play ball and then a 113-mph single to plate two against Adrian Morejon in the eighth. It was the hardest-hit ball Morejon has given up since 2023. Before tonight, Griffin’s only hard-hit ball was his double in his first at-bat Friday. He’d been 0-for-12 at the plate since.

Griffin’s only hit in four games was the RBI double he had against the Orioles in his first major league at-bat. His two balls in play today were a 66-mph groundout and a 51-mph flyout against Germán Márquez. It’ll be interesting to see if the Pirates want to give him a day off before their scheduled off day on Thursday.

It’s hardly unprecedented for a top prospect to struggle upon their first exposure to the big leagues, especially one who is still a literal teenager. Griffin is one of the most talented all-around shortstops to debut in years but it might take him some time to find his footing. The 19-year-old prodigy has gone 1-for-9 with two walks and a pair of strikeouts in three games since arriving in the majors last Friday. The Pirates are going to take some of the pressure off him by having him hit near the bottom of the order while he acclimates to everyday life at the highest level.

Griffin went 1-for-4 with an 106-mph RBI double to left-center field on Friday during one of the most highly anticipated major-league debuts in years. The Pirates don’t want to put too much pressure on him as he acclimates to everyday life in the big leagues as a teenager, but it feels like only a matter of time before he’s hitting near the top of the lineup. There will be some ebbs and flows production-wise, but Griffin projects as an extremely impactful all-around fantasy contributor during his rookie campaign.

Griffin’s double was a 106-mph liner to left-center against Kyle Bradish as part of a four-run second inning. He knocked in Ryan O’Hearn and then scored on a Jared Triolo single. He walked his second time up, struck out in his third plate appearance (despite previously getting a 2-2 pitch overturned to stay alive) and then had a weak groundout his last time up. All in all, it was a very successful day for the 19-year-old.

This move was reported yesterday, but is now official. Griffin, the top prospect in baseball, will bat seventh and play shortstop in his major league debut in the Pirates’ home opener on Friday against the Orioles. He is worth adding in any fantasy leagues where he is still on the waiver wire

Olney adds that the two sides are still finalizing the contract, which figures to get across the finish line before Griffin’s major-league debut on Friday. The sport’s best prospect appears to be settling in for a long stay by the Allegheny. The easy comparison is to the eight-year, $130 million deal that Roman Anthony signed last August. Griffin profiles as a top-of-the-order table-setter for the Pirates right away and will pair with ace Paul Skenes as the franchise’s cornerstones for years to come. The 19-year-old prodigy batted .333/.415/.527 with 21 homers and 65 steals in 122 games last year in his professional debut. He’ll be the youngest position player to reach the big leagues since Juan Soto back in 2018. He needs to be rostered in any fantasy leagues where he is somehow still available.

The move is not yet official because the Pirates don’t play until Friday, but they tweeted it out on their official team account, so we know this is for real. Griffin seemed poised to make the Opening Day roster at the start of spring training, but he struggled to make consistent contact and wound up being sent to Triple-A, where he went 7-for-16 (.438) to start the season with three steals and a 4/5 K/BB ratio in five games. That was enough for the Pirates to call him up in time for the home opener on Friday against the Orioles. Griffin is not on the 40-man roster, so a move will need to be made before he is promoted.

According to multiple reports, the 19-year-old prodigy is negotiating with the Pirates on a long-term contract extension, which would likely expedite his timeline to the majors. He’s hitting .438 (7-for-16) with three doubles, three steals and a 5/4 BB/K ratio through five games at Triple-A this season. It’s worth noting that Pittsburgh’s home opener is on Friday and having Griffin at shortstop would make it one of the franchise’s most anticipated games since Paul Skenes debuted earlier this decade. His dynamic power/speed combination makes him an immediate five-category impact fantasy contributor once he arrives in the big leagues.

As Olney reported, the two sides have been talking since early in spring training, with the Pirates’ proposals being “closer in range to the eight-year, $111 million deal that Corbin Carroll signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the spring of 2023.” Back in spring, Griffin’s side was looking “for something closer to Roman Anthony’s eight-year, $130 million deal” with the Boston Red Sox last August. If the Pirates called up Konnor Griffin before April 8th, they would still be eligible to earn an extra draft pick if Griffin were to win the NL Rookie of the Year. A contract extension could add extra incentive to make that a reality.