This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it usually in your inbox.
When the Pirates chosen Konnor Griffin with the ninth general choose within the 2024 Draft, there was no query that he was one of the athletic gamers in his class. There was skepticism, nevertheless, that he might stick at shortstop.
His 6-foot-4, 225-pound body is nearer to an NFL tight finish than a Main League center infielder, however the explosiveness gave him a shot to play on the dust. Griffin wished to show he might play the infield and labored this winter to benefit from the chance. However the true check can be in Spring Coaching, when he labored with then infield coordinator Chris Truby day by day.
“He believed in me, that I might be a shortstop full time,” Griffin mentioned over Zoom. “As soon as I began believing in myself, that I actually might do it on the professional degree, issues sort of took off.”
Griffin did break up time between shortstop and heart area, however he spent extra time on the former because the season progressed. He ended up taking part in 89 video games within the infield, the place he made solely seven errors. To really see his development, although, you must look past the field scores.
Throughout Griffin’s time with Single-A Bradenton early within the season, the Pirates despatched infield coach Mendy López all the way down to Florida to work with him on balls within the gap. Most shortstops will let you know that it’s often finest to attempt to area that ball a bit deeper, giving themselves extra time to get to a great spot and set their footing earlier than a throw. You don’t at all times get that luxurious, although, and there are occasions the place you need to cost a ball within the gap, creating a clumsy assault angle.
On at the present time within the first weeks of the season, López drilled this play with Griffin, eager to problem {the teenager}. In the course of the recreation that day, a batter hit a curler into the outlet, the precise sort of play Griffin had been practising. He fielded it cleanly and made the throw to first, robbing the batter of an infield hit.
“If he wasn’t good at one thing, he would apply it till he turned good at it,” Marauders supervisor Jim Horner mentioned in August. “That was evident at shortstop. Not essentially new to him, however simply the nuances of taking part in shortstop at knowledgeable degree and taking part in heart. He was very open to info, and he would apply the data instantly. It simply means he’s an outstanding athlete.”
Excessive-A Greensboro supervisor Blake Butler had the same story when it comes to theme, however the reverse end result. In one in all Griffin’s first video games after his promotion, he was picked off second base at a vital second. That might shake a younger participant, and Butler wished to see how he would reply to a tricky lesson.
His response? “He was gonna proceed to play along with his hair on hearth,” Butler mentioned.
“I believe he’s anyone who’s unafraid of the reality, unafraid to make a mistake, however is at all times gonna be taught from the reality, is at all times gonna be taught from these errors,” Butler mentioned over Zoom.
It’s moments like those who helped Griffin develop as a participant, particularly within the area. That’s fairly essential contemplating the Pirates have a evident want at shortstop. Griffin’s focus is on the offseason, however he did admit that Pittsburgh is on his 2026 radar.
Earlier than that occurs, although, he is aware of he has to proceed to develop.
“I at all times wish to win, I at all times wish to get higher,” Griffin mentioned. “Getting drafted with the Pirates gave me an ideal alternative to start out my professional profession, and I knew coming into it, it was going to want some work. I knew I’ve a lot development in me, and I’m simply going to proceed to place my head down and work.
“I’m not anyplace near being what I believe I might be, but it surely’s simply a part of the journey. I’m going to proceed to develop day by day and simply be current.”
