Baseball

Auggie

(33,180 posts) Sat Apr 4, 2026, 09:15 AM Saturday

19-year old Konnor Griffin had a great debut for the Pirates last night

At the plate: a double (first MLB at-bat), a walk, and a run scored. Worked the count well and successfully challenged a strike call. The shortstop also turned a double-play. And Pittsburgh beat Baltimore, 5-4.

Just 628 days after Pittsburgh selected him with the ninth pick in the 2024 amateur draft.

Widely considered a five-tool player, Griffin slashed .438/.571/.625 in his five games this season with Triple-A Indianapolis before getting the callup to the big leagues. In 122 games last year, he hit .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases en route to being named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year. The shortstop was the ninth overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Griffin, who doesn't turn 20 years old until April 24, is the first teenaged position player in MLB since Juan Soto debuted with Washington in 2018. He’s also the first teenager to debut for Pittsburgh since Aramis Ramirez in 1998.

https://www.mlb.com/news/konnor-griffin-mlb-debut-pirates-home-opener?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

4 replies

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19-year old Konnor Griffin had a great debut for the Pirates last night (Original Post) Auggie Saturday OP

After my Cubs, rooting for the Pirates! Chasstev365 Saturday #1

Well, Auggie True Dough Sunday #2

Holy smokes: Pittsburgh signed him to 9 year contract worth a reported $140 million! Auggie 4 hrs ago #3

It is a gamble True Dough 2 hrs ago #4

Chasstev365

(7,851 posts)

1. After my Cubs, rooting for the Pirates!

Reply to Auggie (Original post)

Sat Apr 4, 2026, 09:36 AM

Saturday

PNC Park is one of my favorite MLB parks of all time.

In Chicago, we know about crappy owners. The once proud Pittsburgh Franchise's owners should be ashamed of themselves for putting relatively no $ into the team to try and win!

True Dough

(26,798 posts)

2. Well, Auggie

Reply to Auggie (Original post)

Sun Apr 5, 2026, 04:09 PM

Sunday

you jinxed him.

Things sure haven't gone well for Griffin since his debut.

Seriously, a long, promising career ahead. He'll be just fine.

Auggie

(33,180 posts)

3. Holy smokes: Pittsburgh signed him to 9 year contract worth a reported $140 million!

Reply to True Dough (Reply #2)

Wed Apr 8, 2026, 11:44 AM

4 hrs ago

He's 19! Shouldn't they wait a year at the very least?

Big roll of the dice.

True Dough

(26,798 posts)

4. It is a gamble

Reply to Auggie (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 8, 2026, 01:28 PM

2 hrs ago

If he reaches the upside that many scouts see in him, that contract will look like a bargain in 4 or 5 years.

But it's nice to see Pittsburgh spending some money. They've been stingy for the past decade or two so and it shows in their lackluster play on the field. Now they have Skenes (hopefully longer term) and Griffin to build around.

Some teams have been eager to lock up their young talent this year before the terms of the next CBA kick in. They're hoping whatever contracts get signed now will be grandfathered.

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