PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s been the biggest story in Pirates camp and on the first day of Spring, the Bucs sent shortstop Konnor Griffin to the minors.
The 19-year-old led the Pirates in home run during Grapefruit League play with four, but also led with 13 strikeouts (with Joey Bart and Billy Cook). Ranked the top prospect in baseball, Griffin hit .171 with a .261 on-base percentage, .488 slugging and .749 OPS.
Pirates manager Don Kelly said he thought Griffin was pressing a little bit and going to the minors he can just go and be himself.
“Extremely difficult,” Kelly said of the decision, “you are talking about a kid that was in big league camp playing shortstop for the first time. The talent that you see, I think he handled himself really well. Professionally we talk about the maturity level as a 19-year-old in big league camp. Really excited for him being a Pirate and what that means for the future of Konnor Griffin and the Pirates.”
Kelly added that he took the decision as a pro and he was confident we could go to AAA, work hard and be up as soon as he can.
Griffin being sent down opens the door for Nick Gonzales to likely be the shortstop to open the season, although Jared Triolo and Alika Williams can also play there. Earlier in the day the Bucs sent third baseman Tyler Callihan to the minors.
Pirates open the season Thursday at the New York Mets.