Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Konnor Griffin made club history on the base paths.
Konnor Griffin was always known for his potential at the plate and athleticism on the field as he stormed through the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system. Both of those abilities were certainly present during the team’s victory over the Washington Nationals.
Griffin flashed the leather with two web gem-caliber plays and was also responsible for the game-winning hit.
With all the attention on these two aspects of the rookie’s game, Griffin’s ability to impact the base paths has gone slightly under the radar. So far through his first big-league season, Griffin’s spring speed ranks in the 99th percentile.
After Griffin walked in the fourth inning, he immediately broke for second base and stole the bag.
This stolen base marked his 20th of the season. The last time a Pirates player stole 20 or more bases in their first 60 MLB games was in 1915, when Doug Baird did so. Griffin certainly finds himself in elite and rare company.
Manager Don Kelly noted that Griffin’s ability to steal bases comes down to, yes, his athleticism, but also his baseball IQ.
Jul 5, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Dylan Crews (3) attempts to steal second base in front of Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images“Hust his aggressiveness [has been impressive]. The way he gets after it, he's always ready to go,” said Pittsburgh’s skipper.
“He's smart, too. He understands slide step and when to shut it down, and then he understands at times that it's good to press the envelope a little bit and take a chance.”
“That’s a cool number [20],” said Griffin after the game.
“Especially, I've had to get some stolen bags here lately on this road trip. It just keeps making me want to get more and more. That's kind of how it was in high school, how it was last year. I just kept getting them, and I just wanted more. So it's fun chasing the high numbers.”
It’s impressive how complete a player Griffin is at just 20 years old, and breaking a stolen-base club record held for over 111 years is just another example of his potential to be a star in MLB for a long time.
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