On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin from Mississippi in the first round of the June Amateur Draft. If the reader is confused, it’s because once again, Major League Baseball held its June Amateur Draft in July. The Pirates selected ninth this time. It was their lowest draft position since Ben Cherington became general manager.
Jim Callis:
“I do think the Pirates really like Konnor Griffin. And I think if he got there, that would probably be the guy they would take.” pic.twitter.com/wgVX40bsJX
— Jim Rosati 🏴☠️ (@northsidenotch) July 14, 2024
Pirates Select High School Prospect Konnor Griffin in First Round of 2024 Draft
Cherington stayed true to his “best player available” philosophy with this pick of a young high schooler. The right-handed hitter is listed at six-foot-four and 215 pounds. Scouts say he has the potential to be a five-tool player and project that he could develop into a 30-30 player. He’ll provide above-average defense at shortstop or in center field due to his speed and strong arm. Scouts give his arm a 70 rating. It will be interesting to see at which position the Pirates decide to employ him.
Griffin is said to have plenty of baseball smarts, too. The more one reads the accolades about him, the more one wonders why he was rated as low as the No. 9 prospect in the draft. Griffin is committed to Louisiana State University. Undoubtedly, the Pirates received some assurance that he was amenable to signing before drafting him. As a high school player, he’s a long way from the major leagues but appears to be worth the wait.
Konnor Griffin by the numbers 👀 pic.twitter.com/lEWDBbCvzQ
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) July 15, 2024
The Last Word
Griffin joins Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales, Termarr Johnson, and Paul Skenes as No. 1 draft picks of the Pirates in the Cherington era. Gonzales and Skenes are key members of the major league club. Johnson is further away but is highly regarded. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored in Saturday’s Futures Game. It can be difficult to evaluate the Cherington era as a whole. This season’s major league team is a disappointment because the Pirates were expected to be contenders.
Yet, there’s no doubt that the minor league system is in much better shape than it was when Cherington arrived. He’s stockpiled pitching depth and drafted well. Gone are the days when the Pirates used No. 1 picks on the likes of Daniel Moskos, Bryan Bullington, and Cole Tucker. The development of hitters can be questioned, with Davis being the highest-profile player struggling mightily with the bat. Nonetheless, Cherington appears to have made another good choice with Griffin. Time will tell.
Photo Credit: © Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK
