Only 19, Konnor Griffin entered spring training as baseball’s consensus No. 1 prospect and in competition for the starting shortstop job for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 2024 first-round pick (No. 9 overall), Griffin batted .333/.415/.527 with 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, 117 runs scored and 65 stolen bases across three levels of the minor leagues, starting in Low-A Bradenton and finishing at Double-A Altoona last year.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder was Baseball America’s minor league player of the year and won a Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove.
Griffin sat down for an interview with TribLive Pirates beat reporter Kevin Gorman at LECOM Park.
What has it been like to deal with the media attention and hype that surrounds being the consensus No. 1 prospect?
It’s been pretty special. It’s all a good thing, so I’m soaking it in. I’ve worked super hard to get to this point. I haven’t asked for all of the attention from the media. That’s just all part of it. I’m trying to navigate it best that I can and keeping the main the main thing. I’m showing up every day to win baseball games and get ready for this season. That’s the main focus, but it’s been pretty cool to see all the buzz.
How do you feel when you hear comparisons to having the best tools by a prospect since Mike Trout or having a chance to be the first teenager to make an Opening Day roster since Ken Griffey Jr.?
It’s what I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid. It’s happened so quick, in the blink of an eye. Being compared to guys like that is pretty special but those guys went on to have great success and I’m just starting my career, so I’ve got a long way to go. I’m looking forward to it. I think it just goes back to my faith and believing that God has a plan for me. I don’t worry about tomorrow. I just trust the plan that I’ll be in the right place today. I really feel like I’m called to be a baseball player. That’s my duty. But, at the end of the day, none of the baseball stuff matters because my faith is more important. So I always try to prioritize that. That helps me stay level-headed.
Was there a point when you realized your faith was a foundation for your success?
Maybe 15 years old, there was a lot of attention on me, the spotlight was on me and I could feel the pressure when I was playing the game and I had to remember what I’m here to do on earth is way bigger than just being a baseball player. It’s being a Christian, being a disciple and spreading the word. That’s how I’ve found peace in what I’m doing. This is great. This is my plan, to play baseball, but it’s ultimately not the most important thing.
It sounds like you remind yourself of this, but is there someone who stays in your ear to keep you grounded?
It’s nice having my wife (Dendy) here. I get to go home and be a normal person. She always reminds me to put the phone away and try to feel like a normal person. She’s been great. My parents, that’s all they taught me: Just be humble. Don’t be arrogant. Don’t be cocky. Because things could be taken away from you super quick. Here in the clubhouse, I just know that I’ve got to earn these guys’ respect. Until I’ve done something cool at the big-league level, I’m still working to earn their respect and their trust.
Do you get regular reminders from your parents?
I think it’s just how I am, how I was raised. I just try to be the same guy that I was four years ago. I don’t have to be reminded every day, but I try to make it a priority to show up, be a good teammate, stay humble and keep working.
You’ve been a star at every stage of your career. This isn’t new to you. Is it fair to say that it’s just on a different level?
For sure. I’ve been blessed in many ways with a lot of success, so I have tried to keep a level head the whole time, enjoy the process and keep chasing a dream I’ve been chasing since I was a little kid.
You grew up in a small town with a pond on your property. When did you realize that dreaming of playing in the majors was attainable?
It’s crazy. You dream about this since you were 5 years old. Being able to play in spring training games against players I was watching as a kid has been a crazy moment. What I really didn’t know when I was a kid was how much goes into being a top prospect or a big leaguer. There’s a lot that goes into it behind closed doors, with outside noise and other factors that want to steal the happiness and excitement of playing this game. I’m trying to do the best I can to navigate that and go out there and play the game I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old.
It seems like you made leaps and bounds between being drafted and your first spring training last year. Most teenagers show up looking like they are wearing their father’s clothes. What all went into transforming your physique to where you fill out the uniform?
A ton of work, really. I finally had a full offseason just to train, eat good and work out. I was able to really focus. I had goals that I set in the weight room, how much I wanted to weigh coming into spring. I was able to meet all of those goals and felt good about where I was coming into spring last year. It’s amazing how much I have continued to grow, continued to learn about myself throughout this whole process.
What’s the difference in coming to big league camp as a first-round pick last year to where you’re competing for a starting job?
The main difference is I knew what to expect, knew what to train for, know how the days are going to go. So that’s been really cool for me. I’m just trying to keep it the same way. I came in with an open mind, trying to grow my game every day. I’m still doing the same thing. I don’t know when it will be when I make my debut or start my big league career, but I’m trying to train and prepare to be the best I can be. This is the best way to do that. I’m in the big-league clubhouse every day, around these guys and it’s helping me tremendously.
Last year, you played center field in Grapefruit League games. What has it been like to play shortstop this spring? How much did playing short in your first full professional season build confidence?
Last year, them letting me play 90% of the (minor league) games at shortstop helped me a ton, just the experience and the reps. Getting to come in to spring training and start a few games at shortstop and back up a few games, it’s all been really good. I’m on the other side of some really good hitters. Just being able to be ready for that has been good.
You are a five-tool talent who is a difference maker whether it’s at the plate, on the bases, in the field. What inspires the way you play?
It’s this itch in me when I get on base to make an impact. I just want to run, whether it’s hitting one into the gap and trying to stretch out a triple or stealing bases. There’s something just wants to take off and run as soon as I get on base. I’m going to be as aggressive as I can be when the moment allows me, too. At the big league level, it’s all about winning games. The minor leagues there is, too, but you’re chasing development. I’m going to try to be super smart and pick the right times to go. I still want to be aggressive and try to do some cool things on the bases.
How hard is it not to get ahead of yourself and not think about being the Opening Day shortstop for the Pirates at age 19? Do you have to remind yourself that there’s a process to this?
That’s my goal, to take it day by day. It can be hard when it’s in my face every single day, every time I open up my phone. I’ve been doing a really good job of trying to put my phone away and not really think about it. I’m trying to prepare for the season, not just trying to worry about what’s to come. I’m trying to show up and get ready to play a game today because that’s what matters most.
Are you open to signing a long-term contract with the Pirates? What would that require?
I don’t know. There’s a lot of noise about that right now. My main goal is to show up and be laser-focused at the field. I love Pittsburgh. I’d love to be a Pirate. That’s what I’m focused on right now. I’m really just trying to show up and be focused for the games and try not worry about the outside noise that’s going on right now.
How did you deal with the outside noise in a college-heavy draft?
That was a fun experience because I had some conversations and teams basically said they weren’t going to take me because they didn’t like my hit tool and stuff like that. I respected their decision. I knew what I possibly could do in this game. I’m just thankful for the Pirates, who kind of stuck their neck out and took a chance on me because that meant a lot. It’s been really fun this first year and a half, being able to work with the coaches and this organization letting me do my thing and letting me be free in the minors and go face challenges and move levels. It’s been awesome. I’m right where I needed to be.”
Have any of the Pirates major leaguers taken you under their wing?
There’s been a ton of players taking me under their wing a little bit. Paul’s been great. He lets me be. He understands that there’s a lot going on. He knows that bugging me is probably not going to be the best thing to do because he’s been in this position. I’m sure he’d like to be in silence and think about things and not have a million people talking to him. The conversations that we have had have been really good. Two things that we can relate to is we both want to win. That’s what matters most to us. We’ve been able to keep that the main thing. Guys like Jake Mangum, Henry Davis, B. Lowe, O’Hearn. There’s so many guys that have picked my brain a little bit, just checking in and making sure I’m ready to go. That’s been super cool to see. I feel like I’m actually a part of something special here. They’ve been doing great with that. I’ve still got to earn their respect. I’m super thankful to be able to be with this group.
When you make your debut, will you wear No. 75 or do you have another number in mind?
I hope I have a different number, but if it’s 75 I guess I’ll try to do my best to make it a special number.
Do you have a favorite number?
In high school, I was always wearing No. 22, but I think that one won’t be there much longer. I don’t know. Any single digit number. I like the No. 6. I don’t know if anybody has that. I’m not too picky. I’ll wear whatever.