1 PM: Kevin Gorman on why Konnor Griffin lasted so long in the draft; the Pirates are one of the biggest stories in MLB
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What are the latest updates on Konnor Griffin's performance?
We've done a lot of hockey talk. We've done a lot of football talk. Not so much baseball talk. Not until now, because now Kevin Gorman is live. I was assuming he was in Bradenton. I shouldn't have assumed. I don't know where he is. Gorman, where are you right now?
I'm at Lecom Park in Bradenton, Old McKechnie Field. Yeah, ballgame's about to start. Pirates versus the Orioles. Who's pitching? Mitch Keller against an old friend, Shane Baas. Good matchup. Representative lineup today, actually. Connor Griffin is starting in shortstop. I think it's the first chance for the locals to see Connor Griffin as the starting shortstop for the Pirates. Just great for league season. And they've got Nick Gonzalez at third base, which is interesting. And it's a pretty representative lineup. Ryan O'Hearn, Brian Reynolds, Jake Mangum are out there. Henry Davis behind the plate. So I think you got a good number of guys that are potential starters in the lineup today.
Well, the one name that jumps out, and we talk about this every time, but things change. They go up and down. Percent chance that Connor Griffin opens the season in Pittsburgh, Kev? Yeah, I mean, I still think it's 50-50.
I don't know. I think the Pirates want him to start in the minors. That's the feeling, the vibe that I've gotten from them is that the decision was already made. That's their preference, is that he starts the season in the minors. I was talking to someone close to the team yesterday, and they expressed how in April is when you're going to get your best pitching in AAA because you have guys that are Essentially, the major leaguers that are on non-roster invites that are on minor league deals are going to be there working out their issues, whether they're returning from an injury or whether they're on a prove-it contract. You have the AAA guys that are top 100 prospects are there before their call-up, and you've got the guys that are the quad A pitchers that are still trying to prove themselves.
So he was basically saying, hey, look, a month in April could be beneficial to his confidence, seeing some really good pitching before he gets to the major leagues. That said, the longer he's up here and the more opportunity he gets, and the opportunities are going to increase here now that the World Baseball Classic is about to start and some of these players are going to be going to play for other countries, he's going to make the difficult decision for them. It's going to be, Connor Griffin is showing every day that he belongs. And, you know, whether they feel like he's ready or not for opening day, I don't think anybody has any questions that Connor Griffin is going to make his major league debut in the 2026 season.
And I would imagine it's going to be sooner rather than later. So I just, you know, talking to Brian Reynolds today, talked about how, you know, he just looks the part and not just looks at physically the way he carries himself, the way he acts. this is a guy who isn't overwhelmed by the attention and hasn't allowed any of the hype to change him. And that's what impresses the major leaguers. You know, he said, we talked so much about five-toll talent. He's like, this is a guy who can come along and let it all go to his head and act like a toll. You know, act like a guy who's done something in this game when he hasn't. And that's the one thing Connor Griffin constantly reminds everybody is, I even asked him about Nick Gonzalez being ahead of him right now in spring training, and he said, you know, he's proven himself.
He's played in the major leagues. I haven't. And I think that's very much telling is that this is a kid who as much as he's a 19-year-old, he's a mature 19-year-old, mature well beyond his years, but also has kind of a level head on his shoulders that it's like until, you know, he's not been shy. Excuse me, they're having a flyover over the ballpark. That's all right. I can't even hear it. He got real loud here real quick. But as much as he's kind of been this consensus number one prospect and
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What are the latest updates on Konnor Griffin's performance?
0:00–4:39
2
Why did Konnor Griffin last until the ninth pick in the draft?
4:39–22:36
3
What makes the Pirates one of the biggest stories in MLB this season?
22:36–32:11
4
How does Konnor Griffin adapt to playing shortstop for the Pirates?
32:11–39:30
5
What impact does the World Baseball Classic have on MLB rosters?
39:30–40:59
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from The Pomp And Joe Show
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