9 articles
PIT • SS
6 days ago
It’s understandable that the Pirates would want to give their top prospect some days off from the grind of an MLB season, especially when he’s hitting .189 through 11 games. However, Griffin went 2-for-4 with a double in a loss to the Nationals yesterday, so now feels like an odd time to bench him. In fact, Griffin has gone 2-for-4 twice since being recalled, and he has sat the next day both times. Curious. Nick Gonzales will play shortstop and bat sixth.
PIT • SS
6 days ago
Griffin got retired by Miles Mikolas twice, but he came through with two strong line drives later in the game, hitting a 104-mph single off Mitchell Parker and a 105-mph double off Gus Varland in the ninth. The double would have been a homer in four ballparks. It’s Griffin’s first two-hitnight. He’s at .189/.279/.243 through 11 games.
PIT • SS
10 days ago
The gap between the big leagues and upper minors feels like its greater than ever before with Griffin serving as the latest prominent example. The 19-year-old prodigy is one of the most talented teenage prospects to reach the majors in nearly a decade, but he’s going through it a bit at the dish as he adjusts to facing big-league arms, batting .143 (3-for-21) with four RBI through seven contests. The off-the-charts talent is obvious, and he just signed the largest contract in Pirates history. He’s going to be a fantasy superstar someday, possibly even this season, but it might take some time to get there.
Source: MLB.com
PIT • SS
13 days ago
This deal was rumored before Griffin was even promoted, but it is now official. Part of that is likely because a prospect cannot sign a multi-year extension before debuting if they want to be eligible for Prospect Promotion Incentives, which could get the team a draft pick based on end-of-season award voting. This contract is the largest in Pirates history, beating out Bryan Reynolds’ $106.75 million deal in 2023, and is also right in line with the contract last year’s number one prospect, Roman Anthony, signed at eight years, $134 million with the Red Sox. Griffin is 3-for-17 with three RBI and a 4/2 K/BB ratio in his first five MLB games, so there may be a small learning curve early in his MLB career, but a bright future lies ahead of him.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
PIT • SS
13 days ago
Griffin’s first hit was pounded right into the ground, but that was his only ball in play that wasn’t hit hard tonight. He had a 98-mph flyout, a 106-mph double-play ball and then a 113-mph single to plate two against Adrian Morejon in the eighth. It was the hardest-hit ball Morejon has given up since 2023. Before tonight, Griffin’s only hard-hit ball was his double in his first at-bat Friday. He’d been 0-for-12 at the plate since.
PIT • SS
14 days ago
Griffin’s only hit in four games was the RBI double he had against the Orioles in his first major league at-bat. His two balls in play today were a 66-mph groundout and a 51-mph flyout against Germán Márquez. It’ll be interesting to see if the Pirates want to give him a day off before their scheduled off day on Thursday.
PIT • SS
15 days ago
It’s hardly unprecedented for a top prospect to struggle upon their first exposure to the big leagues, especially one who is still a literal teenager. Griffin is one of the most talented all-around shortstops to debut in years but it might take him some time to find his footing. The 19-year-old prodigy has gone 1-for-9 with two walks and a pair of strikeouts in three games since arriving in the majors last Friday. The Pirates are going to take some of the pressure off him by having him hit near the bottom of the order while he acclimates to everyday life at the highest level.
Source: MLB.com
PIT • SS
17 days ago
Griffin went 1-for-4 with an 106-mph RBI double to left-center field on Friday during one of the most highly anticipated major-league debuts in years. The Pirates don’t want to put too much pressure on him as he acclimates to everyday life in the big leagues as a teenager, but it feels like only a matter of time before he’s hitting near the top of the lineup. There will be some ebbs and flows production-wise, but Griffin projects as an extremely impactful all-around fantasy contributor during his rookie campaign.
Source: MLB.com
PIT • SS
17 days ago
Griffin’s double was a 106-mph liner to left-center against Kyle Bradish as part of a four-run second inning. He knocked in Ryan O’Hearn and then scored on a Jared Triolo single. He walked his second time up, struck out in his third plate appearance (despite previously getting a 2-2 pitch overturned to stay alive) and then had a weak groundout his last time up. All in all, it was a very successful day for the 19-year-old.