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Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin is already showcasing his extraordinary talent
He launched a towering 440-foot blast to left-center off Seth Martinez, clocking an exit velocity of 111.2 mph as the ball sailed well beyond the Florida Green Monster.
“Everybody’s out here just playing baseball. So I stepped in the box and I was ready to compete,” Griffin stated. “I wasn’t worried about who was on the mound; I cared about evaluating his stuff and crafting the best approach.”
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Attend to this question: What impressed Red Sox manager Alex Cora most about Griffin? It happened in the sixth inning when Griffin grounded out.
“Yeah, the homers are great. But then he hit a ground ball to third, sprinted down the line to first base with real hustle. That’s the mark of a pro, a top player,” Cora observed.
Griffin stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds, a shortstop with exceptional power and speed. His athletic tools evoke a young Alex Rodriguez, though Griffin is faster, and his defensive actions are more than capable of handling shortstop.
“He’s only 19—give him a chance,” Cora noted. “There’s been talk that big players can’t handle that position; we’ll see. He’s a good one.”
On Tuesday, Griffin also drew attention for signing roughly a dozen autographs after the game as fans lingered, while others moved past quickly. He appeared genuinely surprised when four reporters gathered for interviews.
Griffin emphasized that the day’s overall success for the Pirates mattered more to him than his individual feats on the field. His composure and professional demeanor, especially in just his second year in professional baseball, were striking.
“We connected on some solid swings and beat them decisively. It was a great win for us,” Griffin reflected. “We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work this spring, and it’s starting to show across our roster.”
Last season, Griffin posted a .333/.942 OPS with 21 homers and 65 stolen bases across 122 games spanning three minor-league levels. He has yet to reach Triple-A, so a spot on Opening Day may be unlikely, but it’s easy to envision him sharing the field with Paul Skenes at some point this season—a pairing that would be a spectacle for any fan.
The Pirates aren’t yet ready to challenge Milwaukee in the National League Central, but they could be contenders in September after a 91-loss season. Their rotation is led by Skenes and includes the promising 23-year-old Bubba Chandler, with Mitch Keller also in the mix. offseason acquisitions—second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, and designated hitter Marcel Ozuna—aim to bolster a lineup that produced the fewest runs in baseball last year.
The Pirates also bring back first baseman Spencer Horwitz and right fielder Bryan Reynolds, their two best hitters from last season.
Center fielder Oneil Cruz faced a decline in 2025, with his OPS dropping from .773 to .676. At 27, he must prove early that the hype surrounding him wasn’t overstated.
Defensively, catcher Henry Davis remains a critical factor, with a career .556 OPS in 186 MLB games despite a .965 OPS in 79 Triple-A games.
“Ozuna brings a power presence in the middle of the lineup. Lowe adds impact,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Pitching is the foundation, but we expect to score more runs this season. The goal is to play more than 162 games.”
The offseason moves pushed the Pirates’ luxury tax payroll to a franchise-record $127 million, a $19 million increase from last year, marking a notable lift for Pittsburgh.
“They made a lot of intriguing moves in the offseason,” Cora commented. “They added veterans and have solid pitching—they’re physical and play hard.”
Ben Cherington, entering his seventh season as Pirates GM, spent the winter pursuing offensive upgrades and hopes to further refine the lineup before Opening Day.
“We’re still working on it,” Cherington said. “We aim to add to the offense where possible, but we already feel better about our lineup depth. The division will be tough and highly competitive, and we know we’ll need our best effort to compete.”
When I asked Griffin how excited he would be to someday homer over the real Green Monster, he replied, “That would be special. I’ve seen plenty of remarkable homers clear that big wall, so I’m eager to join that club.”
You’ll be seeing him on the field soon.
TOUCH ‘EM ALL
Kiner-Falefa Ready for First Base
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been taking grounders at first base and couldn’t be happier about the move.
Kiner-Falefa has played every position except first over his career, even making six pitching appearances. He’s excited to test first base and hopes to eventually say he played all nine positions once his career ends.
Last season, Kiner-Falefa appeared in 119 games for the Pirates before being traded to the Blue Jays. While the trade made sense for Pittsburgh at the time, manager Don Kelly regrets losing him.
“He’s someone I’d take on my team anytime,” Kelly noted. “He’s a quality at bat, makes contact, and solid defensively wherever he is. He’s a great athlete.”
Across the last five seasons, Kiner-Falefa has averaged 2.4 bWAR and 8.4 Defensive Runs Saved, underscoring his versatility and value, which helped justify his $6 million free-agent contract despite a .631 OPS last year.
Other quick notes from the Red Sox:
- Kelly on right-hander Johan Oviedo, acquired from the Pirates: a tough, resilient competitor who improved after Tommy John surgery and provided meaningful innings late last season.
- Alex Cora on Caleb Durbin: a talented baseball player who will contribute regardless of position, including facing both left- and right-handed pitching.
- Durbin’s aggressiveness on the bases and quick, accurate throws are among the small, high-impact traits Cora cherishes.
- The club will decide soon whether Durbin slots in at second or third base to maximize infield work during spring training. First baseman Willson Contreras has shown reliable hands.
- Offensive risk around Kristian Campbell’s eight-year, $60 million contract remains a talking point among agents, with Campbell developing as an outfielder after a mixed season at second base; the deal is currently paying off for the Sox despite mixed performance.
- With 14 players headed to the World Baseball Classic, the Sox expect unusual early-season lineups as they fill gaps with call-ups from the minors.
- A nod to historical moments: umpire Bruce Froemming, who officiated the famous Varitek–Rodriguez altercation in 2004, recently passed away at 86 after decades of officiating MLB games.
What a difference a year makes: Shane Smith, once a Rule 5 pick, is now a potential Opening Day starter for the White Sox, while other Massachusetts natives populate their roster and offseason conversations continue to shape the 2026 season. Ortiz noted Soto’s understated approach and praised Andruw Jones’s Hall of Fame credentials, highlighting the value of quiet excellence and long-term impact. In other news, Tarik Skubal of Team USA may participate in the World Baseball Classic to a limited extent, balancing early-season readiness with tournament obligations. Scouts are also eyeing high school pitchers like Dylan Cunningham, and minor moves such as Max Burt’s contract with the Tigers illustrate ongoing development across organizations. Celebrations and anniversaries, including Don Schwall’s 90th birthday, remind fans of the sport’s rich history. Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com, with updates on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.
