From blazing speed on the basepaths to clutch defensive plays, rookie Konnor Griffin is already impacting games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in electrifying fashion.
PITTSBURGH – Life in the major leagues is beginning to normalize for Konnor Griffin.
The 19-year-old shortstop made his debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday in their home opener. Griffin arrived in the big leagues to much fanfare as he is considered the top prospect in baseball and an expected franchise cornerstone.
Now, after five games, Griffin finds himself beginning to feel like a typical major-league player, not merely a novelty act.
“That’s one of the most important things I’ve been trying to do is just enjoy everything, enjoy my first time here in the big leagues, and really take it in, and it’s been fun to do that,” Griffin said.
That fun was on full display Tuesday night, when Griffin helped the Pirates beat the San Diego Padres 7-1 at PNC Park. In the first multi-hit game of his nascent career, Griffin went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
The most impressive part of Griffin’s performance was when he scored from first base on Oneil Cruz’s two-run double. In the sixth inning, Cruz broke a scoreless tie with a hit down the left-field line. At first, it didn’t seem like Griffin would be able to score.
However, third base coach Tony Beasley waved Griffin home, and he beat shortstop Xander Bogaerts’ relay throw with a headfirst slide.
The baserunning impressed Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly.
“It's game-changing when you see him get going like that down the line and to be able to score on some of those balls,” Kelly said. “I remember the one game (in spring training) when he scored on the Red Sox when the shortstop dove in the hole, and he ends up scoring from second. It just adds another element of his game to the team to be able to put pressure on the other team.”
Griffin embraces this aggressive approach on the bases, and he was happy to see Beasley waving him home—especially as most runners would have been held at third.
“It fired me up,” Griffin said. “One, getting on base, trying to make something happen in the inning. Spencer (Horwitz) starting it off. I get on base, Oneil comes through with a big hit. We go up 2-0 with Paul (Skenes) on the mound; that’s a good feeling. It was a great inning.”
Griffin’s two-run single in the eighth inning capped a five-run rally, stretching the Pirates’ lead to 7-1. Earlier, his defense helped preserve the tie when he turned a double play to end the sixth.
“My defense is super important,” Griffin said. “Playing shortstop is a big role, and I want to take that on, like I want to be as clean as I can be on the defensive side and put my body on the line. I want to make the diving plays. Just try to get out for the pitchers. That’s super important to me, just like offense is.”
Greatness is expected of Griffin, whether those expectations are fair or not. Even though he had gone 13 at-bats without a hit since doubling in his first plate appearance, his teammates remained confident he would come through.
“He’s a kid,” infielder Nick Gonzales said. “He’s doing things that I wish I could do. He hits the crap out of the ball. He’s mature beyond his age. I’m excited to be on the field with him.”
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