‘I Want to Win for This City,’ Konnor Griffin Commits to Pirates With Record Extension
PITTSBURGH — The press conference room at PNC Park was filled prior to Wednesday afternoon’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.
The occasion? Top prospect Konnor Griffin put pen to paper and signed a nine-year extension with the Pirates worth $140 million with an additional $10 million in potential escalators.
Griffin was joined at the podium by general manager Ben Cherington and chairman Bob Nutting. In addition to the trio on stage, Pirates players, staff and Griffin’s family filed into the room to show support.
“Y’all took a chance on me two years ago and I’ve felt nothing but support and love through this whole process,” Griffin said with his native-Mississippi accent. “I’m super excited to be here for nine years. This is where we’re going to call home.”
The Pirates selected Griffin with the ninth pick in the 2024 draft. He made his professional debut last season and soared up the system, reaching Double-A Altoona by the end of the year. As he flew threw the organization, so did his prospect status. After a sensational showing, Griffin became the unanimous top prospect in baseball.
Roughly 20 months after his introductory press conference once after being drafted and signing with the Pirates, Griffin returned to PNC Park to make his MLB debut.
After only five games with Triple-A Indianapolis, Griffin was called up by the Pirates ahead of their home opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday to play in his first big-league game. The 19-year-old quickly made an impact with an RBI double in his first at-bat that helped spark a 5-4 Pirates’ win.
“The past year and a half playing baseball has been unbelievable,” said Griffin. “There’s been ups and downs, and last year was great, and I had an offseason to kind of enjoy that, but kind of close the book and move on to what was to come. And this year’s off to a great start. This week has been amazing. Debut week, and then sitting here signing the contract. It’s been amazing.”
The sellout crowd at PNC Park in attendance for the home opener gave Griffin a roaring ovation as his named was called during pregame introductions, once he stepped to the plate for the fist time and again after he stood at second base following his first hit.
A handful of those fans were already wearing No. 6 Griffin jerseys.
“I saw it on Opening Day,” Griffin said when asked about seeing his jersey in the stands. “The fans are amazing. I can’t wait to see the stadium packed like that for a long time, for nine years. And that’s why I want to be here. I want to win for the city. I want to do it for them, because they deserve it. They deserve a winning team.”
Griffin’s extension is the largest guarantee in franchise history and is the biggest contract ever signed by a player who still has his prospect status intact.
It’s a significant commitment from the Pirates to ensure the budding star remains in Pittsburgh long-term, but Griffin has done a lot in a short time in the organization for Nutting to sign off on the deal.
“As you look at a long-term commitment, certainly an important part of that is having elite skills and being a tremendous baseball player,” Nutting explained. “But for my perspective, the character, the makeup the person makes as just as much of a difference when you’re looking at a nine-year [contract].”
For Griffin, while immediate financial security was surely a factor in wanting to get a deal done, he feels as though Pittsburgh, despite a 10-year playoff drought and 46 years since its last World Series championship, is a place he can win.
“The goal is to win. The goal is to win a World Series. I think we’ve got a clubhouse to go do that,” said Griffin. “I’m pumped to be a part of that and can’t wait to go do that and continue to get better as a player and continue to grow as a person, as well, in this clubhouse.”
It’s been a whirlwind seven-day stretch for Griffin, from the time he got the news he was headed to the big leagues to signing an extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2034 and everything in between. But also one he’ll never forget, and one that is only the start.
“It’s one of the best weeks of my life.”
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How can you not like this kid? Can’t believe the Pirates landed him. Please dont screw this up.
What a great day it is! Congratulations Konnor and welcome to the burg..we’re glad you’re here!…I’m excited for this team moving forward…a good mix and it seems like they genuinely like one another and like being a pirate..that’s important for sustainable success..let’s go bucs!