Leading up to the 2024 Draft, it was no secret that Konnor Griffin had a full toolbox when it came to his work on the diamond. Now, just in the first week of his professional career, the highest high school pick from the 2024 Draft (ninth overall) showed what the hype was all about.
The Pirates¡¯ No. 2 prospect launched his first pro homer and bolted around the bases for a triple in a four-RBI night during Bradenton¡¯s 8-5 victory over Palm Beach on Friday night at LECOM Park. Griffin¡¯s defense also shined during the contest with a web gem to keep the game tied.
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After starting off the night with back-to-back ground outs to third, the fifth inning opened the floodgates for all the skills to shine. MLB¡¯s No. 40 prospect clubbed a two-RBI triple to the right-field wall and showed off his 65-grade speed (on the 20-80 scale) by bolting his way to third.
Even at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Griffin clocked in at an 11.44 home-to-third speed, the third-quickest speed on a triple across both the Majors and Minors this year -- falling just behind Corbin Carroll (11.22) and Jaren Duran (11.42), but also .01 seconds ahead of reigning MiLB stolen-base champ (104) and 80-grade speedster Chandler Simpson.
¡°Ever since I was young, speed has kind of been a God-given talent,¡± Griffin said during the 2024 Draft Combine. ¡°I did a lot of explosive workouts in the offseason where I'm just working on my first step. And really, I just kind of let my skills take over when I got on the field because I just trusted all the work I put in in the offseason.¡±
In the eighth inning, Griffin brought his power into the mix and put the Marauders ahead with a two-run homer to left-center field -- and it wasn't just any roundtripper, it marked his for his first professional home run.
But wait, there's still more! Scouts were divided if Griffin's future lay at shortstop or in center field entering the Draft. The Pirates have sent him out at short and he utilized his 70-grade arm to throw out a runner in a key spot in the seventh.
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The 18-year-old had the opportunity to play in eight Spring Training games for the Pirates this year, where he hit his unofficial first homer. He feels the knowledge he gained from that experience will help him progress in his future.
"I learned a lot,¡± Griffin said in a post-game interview. ¡°I got to learn from the big league guys ¡ it prepared me for this great season that¡¯s coming up.¡±