Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 2: Konnor Griffin’s Five-Tool Potential

This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.

The 2024 draft started with eight-straight selections from the college ranks. The Pittsburgh Pirates finally broke the dam when they drafted Konnor Griffin from Jackson Prep in Mississippi with the ninth pick.

After day one of the draft concluded, Pirates’ amateur scouting director Justin Horowitz raved about Griffin’s potential.

“We’re absolutely excited to draft Konnor,” he said. “He’s an incredible athlete, honestly. A potential five-tool superstar at the highest level with some of the biggest upside in the whole draft.”

Griffin’s athleticism is off the charts. Despite being one of the younger players available in last year’s draft after reclassifying, Griffin already possesses a sturdy 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame.

Defensively, scouts believe that Griffin has the ability to man two premium positions in shortstop and center field, and he projects to be above-average at either spot. Griffin has eye-catching tools across the board, but his 70-grade arm is considered his best and would play exceptionally well at either spot.

His speed would also help him defensively, especially in center field. But it will also help him on the basepaths, and it certainty did during his high school career.

Griffin’s stellar senior season included a whopping 85 stolen bases en route to winning Gatorade and MaxPreps National Player of the Year awards. And just for the record, those 85 steals came in a total of 43 games played, an average of nearly two stolen bases per game.

In addition to his terrific defensive upside and lightning-quick speed, Griffin has the potential to be a legitimate power threat. MLB Pipeline says the Griffin possesses 30/30 upside thanks to his 60-grade power.

Sounds pretty good, right?

The upside is clear, but there’s one element to Griffin’s game that made him available for the Pirates to take at No. 9 instead of being the first pick in the draft. There is some concern about Griffin’s hit tool. He is, however, said to have good control of the strike zone and contact skills.

If Griffin does put those questions to rest, the Pirates could have a potential superstar on their hands.

Griffin’s first shot at professional baseball won’t come until next season, but he already possess as much potential as any prospect in the sport. The Pirates’ uninspiring track record of developing hitting talent will be put to the test and could determine if Griffin is one day a perennial All-Star or just an everyday regular.