Konnor Griffin understands the expectations of being a highly rated MLB rookie, and is anxiously pursuing them.
Understandably, Griffin is “chomping at the bit.” He’s a baseball player. Game action is his main satisfaction. Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates during last month’s MLB First-Year Player Draft in the first round (9th overall), Griffin, the 2024 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, is an 18-year-old with ample amounts of hustle to offer on a field.
Bradenton, Florida, nestled in the southwestern part of the “Sunshine State’s” Manatee County, is the first stop for Griffin with the Pirates’ organization. After signing a reported $6.532 million contract on July 31, and spending a few days scoping out the Pirates’ home ball park—PNC Park on located on Federal Street in downtown Pittsburgh, the rookie packed up for the club’s southern home, some 1,000 miles south.
As one of 615 players selected during the 20 rounds of the MLB Draft held in Fort Worth, Griffin has dreams of making it to “The Show.” Coming from small-town Florence, Mississippi (population 4,141), excelling at highly respected Jackson Preparatory School in nearby Flowood, Griffin is so ready to begin his professional days with the Pirates that he finished high school in three years as opposed to four, to reclassify for the ‘24 Draft.
Ultimately, Pirates’ General Manager Ben Cherington gave his approval to the scouting department’s recommendation to snag the 6-foot-4 and 215 pound shortstop. Reports have Griffin as a potential five-tool player; another version of Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout. He has that much potential according to those in the know.
For now, Griffin’s talents and dreams are starting at where most in the game are indoctrinated, at the club’s training complex. Home for Kevin and Kim’s middle son (the Griffin’s have three sons—Kannon (the oldest) and Kaden (the youngest), is a dorm room at Pirate City on Roberto Clemente Memorial Way located on Bradenton’s east side. By all accounts from Griffin, he’s having fun.
“It’s been great,” Griffin told The Epoch Times earlier this week. “I’ve been to the beach a couple times with some of my teammates. Mom and dad are planning to be down here for a visit on Labor Day Weekend. I want to make all the people who have supported me, for me to get here, proud.”
Living at Pirate City, an impressive facility that offers 80-plus dorm rooms on three floors with all the amenities of a first-rate hotel including pool and ping-pong tables, is where Griffin and fellow draftees can easily walk to the four playing fields and other training stations. Being “one of the guys,” a teammate to all who were selected after him in the draft, Griffin is making the most at forming friendships. If there ever was an ego as a blue-chip athlete from Mississippi, there isn’t a hint about it in Bradenton.
Calm, relaxed, confident, but not cocky, Griffin presents himself as a young man far beyond his teens. He is a product of good parenting and caring coaching. Tall, handsome, and respectful, Griffin is the “guy next door” mothers would line up to have him meet their daughters. And, he’s terrific in cleats and swinging a bat.
“I appreciate everything that the Pirates have done for me,” said Griffin. “They rolled out the red carpet for me in Pittsburgh. I know I have some tough work ahead in my career. I can promise them (Pirates) that I will compete hard, during the ups and downs that will come, but I will always give them my all.”
Griffin’s maturity shines as he tells of blocking out what is seen and said about him on social media. Although the Pirates’ top draft pick last month thinks it’s “cool” that people are talking about him, Griffin promises to control his emotions, avoid the negative comments, and devote his energy to working on his game.
The first challenge as a pro for Griffin and his many roommates housed at Pirate City is the Instructional League. The six-team schedule includes draftees from the Yankees, Phillies, Tigers, Rays, Jays, and Pirates. The 17-game schedule entails bus rides to nearby MLB training complexes, East and West on I-75, with the furthest trip being 66 miles east to Lakeland (Detroit Tigers’ southern home). There are 36 pitchers and 23 position players selected; the “chosen ones,” by the organizations to offer extra, exceptional coaching to during a five week program.
Griffin and his teammates have Sundays off, and Wednesdays and Saturdays are reserved as “Camp Days.” This is when specific skills are worked on at specific times. The learning process in baseball is akin to that of a daily college course schedule. On the days there are no games scheduled, Griffin says his requirements are over by noon. On days when there are games at Pirate City (one home game will be played at LECOM Park—five miles east of Pirate City and site of all Pirates’ spring training home games), “Play Ball” is at noon.
“I’m taking it slow here,” said Griffin of his workout schedule. “After breakfast, my day begins at 8 a.m. I get to work on individual and team defense. Then, I’m in the batting cage for 30-40 minutes. We have live hitting four times a week. There’s conditioning, and running, too.”
The camaraderie building growing for Griffin was front and center earlier this week beyond when going with his Pirate City buddies to one of Bradenton’s four beaches, by supporting a friend’s promotion. On Tuesday, the Pirates made a roster move. Connor Wietgrefe, a seventh-round draft pick out of the University of Minnesota during last month’s draft in Texas, was promoted to the Single-A Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League.
“I was at the game over there (LECOM Park) to support him with some of my teammates. He was called-up, and we wanted to be there for him.”
At an age where in some municipalities Griffin is too young to drink alcoholic beverages or require parental permission to sign certain legal documents, he is, however, able to begin his MLB apprenticeship. Postcards being sent home from Pirates camp aside, Griffin is having a blast in Bradenton with the poise of a veteran. Bravo, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin on a job well done.
