Kevin Gorman

And then all of a sudden somebody gets hurt and you're short a catcher.

Right now they have four catchers on their 40 man, which is, you know, considered a bit of a surplus.

But I think the Pirates are also, you know, very careful not to put themselves on a predicament again.

Well, first of all, you know, the bat against schemes was on Monday before we were allowed to enter camp.

That was they had a couple of workouts, I think, on Monday and Tuesday because of the guys participating in the World Baseball Classic.

They're they're a bit ahead of everybody.

So they wanted to give them a couple additional workouts.

So Connor Griffin went in against Skeens, and I think he struck him out on three fastballs in the first at bat, but he made contact and drove a line drive into left field in the second at bat.

And that's telling that here's a kid 19 years old facing a guy who is arguably the best pitcher in the game, is unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award last year, and has a sub two ERA and 55 career starts.

we're talking about somebody that can be very intimidating and Connor Griffin admitted as much like facing a six foot six 260 pound writer right hander who throws triple digits uh with ease is intimidating but Connor Griffin is also a guy who showed no fear which is what I got from Henry Davis was that he was impressed with the presence that Griffin showed I mean we're talking about a guy who's 19 doesn't turn 20 until April 24th a couple weeks after this season opens

but looks every part of a major leaguer at 6'4", 225 pounds.

He's a five-foot tall talent, and he's the consensus number one prospect in baseball based on having a phenomenal professional season where he started in low A and finished the season in double A. What really stands out is Connor Griffin looks like he belongs, both physically, both maturity level-wise.

This is a guy who,

looks every bit the part of a major leaguer, acts it, and has been accepted by major leaguers as one of them long before he's even come close to making his debut.

If you had to ask me, based on what I've seen so far, which is very, very limited,

that I think Connor Griffin is the starting shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day.

And I think the Pirates are very much in the mentality is if they go in that direction, let's go, let's roll with him.

I can see the Pirates putting him at the bottom of the order as kind of almost an extra leadoff hitter.

You know, let's just say they put Connor Griffin ninth and have O'Neal Cruz batting a leadoff.

You've got, you know, Griffin had 65 stolen bases in the minors.