Pittsburgh Pirates No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin seems to already have a fan in superstar Bryce Harper.
There are plenty of analysts, fans, and those alike who are incredibly high on Pittsburgh Pirates’ Minor Leaguer Konnor Griffin. Not only is Griffin the top prospect in the Pirates organization, but he is also well-regarded as the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball.
He already has a pretty big fan from another big-league Pennsylvanian team: Bryce Harper.
Harper was being interviewed by Philadelphia’s broadcast team on Sunday when Griffin was at the plate. Without any prompting or inquiry, Harper muttered, “he’s going to be a stud.”
That’s incredibly high praise coming from a former Rookie of the Year, eight-time All-Star, and two-time MVP.
If there’s anybody out there who knows what it's like to be a 19-year-old No. 1 prospect with incredibly high, in some cases unfair, expectations and being dubbed as the player who could turn a franchise around, it’s Harper.
Aug 2, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin who was the ninth overall pick in first round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft in the batting cage before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesHarper went through the exact same experience after being drafted by the Washington Nationals.
“Obviously, it's tough when you're at that age trying to play at a high level, but he's done it his whole life.He wouldn't be in the position that he is if he wasn't who he is,” said Harper.
When asked what type of advice Harper would give to Griffin, he said, “I’d just tell him to be himself. Do what got you here, and don't change for nobody. Just be yourself and have fun, enjoy the game.”
“Like I said, he's here for a reason, and he looks like a grown man. He's a big boy. So I really hope, he has a great career, he can be himself, and he can go do his thing.”
Hopefully, somehow, Griffin gets ahold of this clip from Philly’s broadcast and has a chance to hear Harper’s words about him, and for him.
It’s not every day that an opposing player goes out of their way to complement a prospect and rave about how excited they are to watch the player’s career pan out. Clearly, Harper believes Griffin has what it takes to eventually be a superstar in this league.
Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.