The Pittsburgh Pirates have been enjoying a lot of success to start the season, and it's been very impressive to watch.
Currently 13-9 and coming off a series win over the Tampa Bay Rays, taking two of three in an important early stretch, there's a lot to like about what this organization has done. The Pirates, more importantly, have a lot of young talent, and instead of pressing, these players are doing what's needed on both sides of the baseball.
Many have been impressed with what they've done, but what Konnor Griffin has been able to do is nothing short of impressive. I understand that Griffin hasn't been playing the best baseball to start his time in Major League Baseball, but he could certainly be a lot worse than he currently is.
More importantly, the youngster is doing what's needed in terms of being a professional, and it's catching the attention of many players on the roster.
"There's nothing that's happened where I'm like, 'That's just a kid,'" 31-year-old veteran Bryan Reynolds said. "He has his life together."
"That's something that other people wouldn't be worried about," Skenes said with a smile. "Everyone realizes it's part of the game. That question was kind of funny. That's a reminder that he hasn't been here."
It also sounds like Griffin has a funny side to him and understands that he needs to enjoy himself while playing the game. When speaking about a hilarious moment, veteran Marcell Ozuna shared a funny story about Griffin and the vibes he brings to the team.
"Yesterday, he said, 'Let me rub your head' to get a hit," Ozuna recalled with a laugh. "I said, 'OK.' His energy reminds me of when I was his age."
More importantly, it seems like he's fitting in with the rest of the guys on the roster, and there's something to be said about that considering how young he is. Instead of anything being a problem right now, the Pirates feel very good about where they stand as a team, and if that continues over the next few months, there's reason to believe Pittsburgh can do something it hasn't done in a very long time.
"It's definitely the best team we've had," Reynolds said. "I feel like we've had some good starts in the past but just kind of a fluke more than anything. This team is good. We have a good lineup and good pitching. We have the whole age spectrum mapped out. Everyone vibes well. There's no look-at-me guys."