PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was a pretty good sign of where Konnor Griffin stands with his teammates to see them all show up as he signed a nine-year, $140 million first MLB contract as a rookie. You can tell more than like, the team respects him.
“He’s an incredibly talented, mature guy who makes our team better instantly,” said 32-year-old Ryan O’Hearn. “He plays the game the right way. He plays hard. Very happy for him and his family and excited for our team and the organization to lock up a guy like that for almost a decade, that’s special.”
Pirates manager Don Kelly alluded to that on Friday when Griffin was called up. General manager Ben Cherington said he was sensitive to how teammates would feel about this out of respect to his teammates. Cherington said he’s earned trust through his actions.
The players appreciate how he approaches the game.
“If you stuck him behind a wall and talked to him, he wouldn’t be 19,” said 31-year-old Brandon Lowe. “The maturity, the clarity he speaks with. He answered questions where he felt like he had seven years in the big leagues.”
“I think it’s just the maturity,” O’Hearn said. “You guys see it, you talk to him for five minutes, it’s not like a normal 19-year-old. It blows my mind that he’s a 19-year-old. The complete player, what he can do on defense, that has really impressed me. Offensively he’s a really good hitter and he’s only going to get better.”
“A guy who is going to impact every game he plays in for a long time.”
Lowe mentioned it’s good for Griffin just to be able to know where he’s living. He can learn the organization and the city and create a sense of home. Lowe said they can help him in that whole process.
“The clubhouse that you put him in,” Lowe explained. “When you have guys in here like this, guys in the clubhouse leading the way. It’s not like it used to be, no one is trying to make you feel uncomfortable. We want the best out of him. The best way to do that is make him feel like one of the guys. He’s fit in seamlessly. We are really excited to see what the next 150 games look like out of Konnor Griffin.”
O’Hearn said that commitment is also pretty cool for the team. To see a commitment to winning from the organization, and it’s not just being felt by the new guys, but those who have been with the Pirates for years.
“It's going to be really huge for our organization, for our team, for this year and the years to come,” said pitcher Mitch Keller who signed a five-year, $77 million extension two years ago.
The players also feel the energy from a fan base looking for something to get excited about.
“There is a lot going on,” Lowe said. “From what I’ve been told, the fans are here, they are just waiting. It seems like they are starting to realize we are starting to put a good product on the field.”
“That kind of commitment is pretty cool. I think it says a lot about both sides, Konnor and his family and also the organization and the commitment to winning. I’m excited.”
“Konnor Griffin which is going to be a lot of fun for a lot of people to watch.”
And so too could be this 2026 Pirates team.
Pirates talk respect for 19-year-old
Pirates talk respect for 19-year-old
