Pirates View Konnor Griffin As Playmaker And Leader

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With the emergence of Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh, it’s only natural for the Pirates to feel pressure to win now.

For that reason, the club could have looked for the quick, immediate impact of a college hitter when it chose ninth overall in the 2024 draft.

Instead, the Pirates opted for the High School Player of the Year: shortstop Konnor Griffin out of Jackson Prep in Mississippi.

“It wasn’t necessarily about the prep versus college (angle) as much as it was about getting, in our minds, the best player available where we selected,” Pirates scouting director Justin Horowitz said. “When we got to that point, we truly believed Konnor was that guy.

“His collection of athleticism, tools, traits and makeup—we felt it was pretty unique, not just in the draft itself, but over time as well.”

Nobody denies Griffin’s tools. He has arguably the highest upside of anyone in the 2024 draft. He hit .559/.690/.996 with nine home runs and 85 stolen bases. He also served as ace of the Jackson pitching staff.

Some saw him as a legitimate two-way prospect with 30-30 potential at the plate and the ability to play either shortstop or center field. 

It went further than that for Horowitz, who believes Griffin has the intangibles that can’t be measured on the field as well. 

“He’s someone we really wanted to bet on, a kid who has a chance to be a dynamic playmaker in every facet of the game,” Horowitz said, “but then also he has the human traits to be an organizational leader, face of the franchise type of kid.”

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