Konnor Griffin makes good first impression with major league team
Griffin reassigned to minor league camp after impressive first impression
In a draft full of college prospects at the top, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected the first high school player, Konnor Griffin, with the ninth overall pick.
Griffin didn’t play in any official games to close out the year, he technically made his pro debut this spring training, where he was a non-roster invite as an 18-year-old (he won’t turn 19 until April).
The Pirates invited Termarr Johnson to major league camp the year after drafting him out of high school, so it’s something that isn’t too uncommon for them.
It wasn’t much playing time, but Griffin made an impact in the opportunities he got, picking up two hits in seven at-bats, including a go-ahead home run against the Baltimore Orioles on March 1. He scored three times and drove in two runs, striking out once (he was also hit by a pitch).
Entering as a late-game substitution, Griffin never faced any bona fide major league pitchers, but he was at least six years younger than anyone he did face. The youngest was Tyler Owens (24) of the Detroit Tigers. Michael Fulmer (31) was the oldest, and most experienced in the majors with over 600 innings pitched.
That last at-bat against Fulmer was rough, but that was a very quality breaking ball that he probably hasn’t seen before.
Going through the ins and outs of eight plate appearances won’t get you too far, but Griffin made solid contact and whiffed four times (according to Gameday). For someone who had some hit tool concerns going into the draft, you take that in a small sample size.
He got a chance to show off his speed and power. Both are legitimate plus (at least) tools.
Perhaps the thing that stood out the most, at least to me, is how natural he is in center field and how willing he was to take charge. The center fielder, of course, can call off any one else in the outfield, but I’ve seen some others be a bit more passive, and they have far more years of experience in pro ball.
He takes charge, and if he can get to the ball, he will be the one coming down with it. There was also a near diving catch that he couldn’t quite complete. It looked like it slipped out the glove at the last second (in what looked like a newer glove).
Griffin has the chance to be a very special player, a potential face of the franchise type. While he flashed some of those tools in his brief playing time, it’s also a good time to remember that he is still just 18 and hasn’t played in a minor league game yet.
There will be some struggles, but the hope is that his natural talents will allow him to make the adjustments needed to reach his potential.
As Griffin embarks on his first full professional season, those seven at-bats gave a glimpse of what could be, perhaps quicker than some things, and some added hope for the future.
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Booo!!!! He should've began the season in Pittsburgh!!! Booo!!!!!
(Sarcasm)
Griffin had two K's, both swing and misses on curve balls. We've seen this before....Cruz, Nicky G.....he'll learn how to hit it or to recognize it and lay off the pitch. Learning curve.