Konnor Griffin hit at least .325 in Low A, High A and then Double A last year.
This year, as MLB’s top prospect, he’s already making major-league fireworks. Griffin, just 19 years old but standing an imposing 6-foot-4 and 220-plus pounds, launched a pair of Pittsburgh Pirates home runs during a 16-7 spring training win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
Both of the homers left JetBlue Park, otherwise known as “Fenway South,” in Fort Myers, Florida.
The first one went over JetBlue Park’s Green Monster, which is actually taller overall than the original, and it was off Ranger Suárez, a one-time All-Star whom the Red Sox signed to a five-year deal reportedly worth $130 million this offseason.
Griffin, playing shortstop and batting seventh for the Pirates, demolished Suárez’s second-inning curveball and deposited it over the second level of Monster seats.
That dinger traveled 374 feet and scored two. His next one went even farther.
The Mississippi native took a Seth Martinez sweeper for a 440-foot ride in the fourth inning. That solo shot also flew over the southern Green Monster.
“He’s obviously a freakish athlete,” Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski said afterward, per Tribune-Review Sports’ Kevin Gorman. “I haven’t been able to be around him a whole lot, other than just seeing him this spring and watching some videos from last year, but you can tell he’s definitely going to hit.
“There’s not a whole lot of swings that you see like that, especially for a teenager. I mean, the best way I can say it is that his bat is in the zone forever.”
Mlodzinski added: “It’s not fair to say it’s a long swing, but the bat path just looks like it’s going to be on the ball the whole way, and he was able to show that today.”
Less than two years after the Pirates selected Griffin No. 9 overall in the MLB Draft, he’s already turning heads this spring, but he’ll have to force the Pirates’ hand if he wants to be an Opening-Day starter.
That kind of debut would be ahead of schedule, however, there’s no denying his five-tool talent.
In 122 minor-league games last year, Griffin posted 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 65 stolen bases and a .942 OPS.
He is a name to know, and he has a bat to watch.
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