Pirates sign 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin, who says he's 'ready to take the challenges'

Before the Pittsburgh Pirates made the No. 9 overall pick in the MLB Draft, general manager Ben Cherington listened to everyone from the team’s analysts to coaches to scouts and strength and conditioning trainers speak with excitement about Konnor Griffin.

When the Pirates signed Griffin on Wednesday to a $6,532,025 bonus — $315,425 over slot value — it was viewed as the beginning of what they hope is a perfect partnership with the 18-year-old shortstop from Jackson (Miss.) Prep who was the first high school prospect selected.

“It’s exciting with a high school player when you hear conviction from people with different kinds of expertise,” Cherington said. “Sometimes you hear certain kinds of group speaking on behalf of a player, but he kind of checked every box this year from those different kinds of expertise. I think that speaks to who Konnor is as an athlete, as a person, as a baseball player. …

“This is someone that people want to work with,” Cherington later added. “There’s a lot of things that he has a chance to do on a baseball field that not everyone can do.”

Accompanied by his parents, Kim and Kevin, brothers Kannon and Kaden and girlfriend, Dendy, in an introductory news conference at PNC Park, Konnor Griffin expressed his thanks and appreciation to “all the people that have poured into my life” and to the Pirates for “taking a chance on a small town kid from Florence, Mississippi.”

“I feel like I worked my tail off to get to this position, and I know there’s a lot more work to be done,” Griffin said. “I can’t wait to start this process. I know it’s going to be a tough process, there’s going to be adversity. But, I’m ready to face that. I’m ready to take the challenges and get started.”

Pirates sign first-round pick Konnor Griffin and introduce him to PNC Park. pic.twitter.com/mo740HmoHb

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 31, 2024

Griffin was signed by Pirates area supervisor Darren Mazeroski — the son of Hall of Fame second baseman and 1960 World Series hero Bill Mazeroski — who advised him to pay attention for his first glimpse of the Golden Triangle as he exited the Fort Pitt Tunnel. Griffin also got a taste of some of the city’s restaurants during his visit.

“I got drafted to play with the Pirates but that also means I get to make an impact on the city of Pittsburgh one day,” Griffin said. “I think that’s important to see outside the baseball organization and see what the city’s about. So it’s been great so far.”

Pirates amateur scouting director Justin Horowitz called Griffin a “potential five-tool superstar at the highest level, with some of the biggest upside in the whole draft.”

Griffin certainly has an impressive resume, as he was named Gatorade’s national player of the year after batting .559/.690/.966 with 13 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 85 stolen bases in 43 games, and also went 10-0 with an 0.72 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings to lead Jackson Prep to its seventh consecutive state title.

Although the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Griffin played shortstop in high school and center field for USA Baseball and on the summer circuit, Cherington said the Pirates plan to make shortstop his primary position and center field his secondary spot when he reports with the rest of his draft class to the Florida Complex League at Pirate City in Bradenton.

Where Griffin specified his “good range and good arm” at short and vowed to become a better infielder, he admitted that he has played center longer and it “comes more natural” because of his love for using his speed and tracking down fly balls and making diving catches.

“So I’m going to go all out when I’m in the outfield and at short,” Griffin said. “That’s something you never have to question.”

MLB Pipeline analyst Jonathan Mayo believes Griffin has “a chance to be special in either place,” although the Pirates also signed prep shortstops Wyatt Sanford (second round) and Eddie Rynders (fourth), the latter of whom is projected as a corner infielder.

“He is a plus-makeup kid. He’s going to work at it to take to coaching,” Mayo said of Griffin. “He has a chance to be a Gold Glover in center field.”

An LSU recruit who already was following the career of rookie phenom pitcher Paul Skenes, Griffin embraced the idea of becoming a Pirate as soon as he was selected. Cherington said the Pirates didn’t have a pre-draft deal in place with Griffin but called their negotiations a “very respectful conversation the whole way.”

That feeling was reciprocated when Griffin, wearing a white dress shirt with a gold tie, slipped on a white home Pirates jersey with his surname and the No. 24 across the back. That’s a number worn previously by Pirates greats Dick Groat and Barry Bonds, and Griffin hopes to eventually make his mark in the major leagues.

“Can’t wait to hopefully in a few years be a part of that team and try to win a World Series,” Griffin said. “It’s been fun watching over the past few weeks but now it’s time to start my pro career, try to get to the big leagues and help them win games because that’s the goal.”