Kevin Gorman explains why Konnor Griffin lasted so long in the draft
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Why did Kevin Gorman join the show and what’s the latest on the Pirates’ spring training?
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. Gourmy, where are you
right now? I'm at I'm at Leecom Park in Bradenton, old McPechney Field. Yeah, r uh but ball game's about to start. Pirates versus the Orioles. Who's pitching? Mitch Keller against an old friend Shane Boss. Oh wow. Good matchup, representative lineup today actually. Connor Griffin is starting in shortstop. So it's I I think it's the first chance for the the locals to see Connor Griffin as the starting shortstop for the Pirates. It's a scrape fruit league season. And uh they've got Nick Gonzalez at third base, which is interesting. And um it's a pretty representative lineup. Uh you know, Ryan O'Hearn, Brian Reynolds Uh Jake Magnum are out there, uh Henry Davis behind the plates. So you you g I think you got, you know, a 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 fifty fifty.
Uh uh I I am a I think the Pirates want him to start in the minors. That's that's the feeling that the vibe that I've gotten from them is that the decision was already made. Um that yeah, that that's their preference, is that he starts the season in the minors and you know, I was talking to someone close to the team yesterday and and they they expressed how in April is when you're going to get your best pitching in triple A because you have guys that are, you know, essentially the major league figures that are on you know, non roster invites that are on minor league deals are gonna be there kind of working out their issues, whether they're returning from an injury or whether they're, you know, gonna prove it contract.
Uh you have the the triple A guys that are top one hundred 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. Uh so he was basically saying, you know, hey look, you know a a month in April it could be beneficial to his confidence to you know, 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 gonna increase here now that the world baseball classic is about to start and some of these players are gonna be going to play for other you know, other countries. Um He's going to make the d difficult decision for them.
I it it's gonna be Connor Griffin is is showing every day that he belongs.
How is Connor Griffin performing as the Pirates’ starting shortstop in Bradenton?
And you know, whether you whether they feel like he's ready or not for opening day, I don't think that any anybody has any questions that Connor Griffin is gonna make his major league debut in the twenty twenty six season and I would imagine it's gonna be sooner rather than later. Um so uh I I just you know, uh 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. Um th this is a guy who isn't overwhelmed by the attention and hasn't allowed any of the hype to change him. And and that's what impresses the major leaguers. You know, he said we we talked so much about five toll talent. He's like, This is a guy who could come along and and let it all go to his head and act like a toll.
You know, a act like a guy who who's done something in this game when he hasn't. And that and that's the one thing Connor Griffin constantly reminds everybody is you know, I've even asked him about, you know, Nick Gonzalez being ahead of him right now 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 and I I think that's very much telling is that this is a kid who As much as he's a nineteen year old, he's a mature nineteen year old, well mature well beyond his years, but but also has kind of a level head on his shoulders that that it's like until you know, he's he's been he's not been shy.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why did Kevin Gorman join the show and what’s the latest on the Pirates’ spring training?
0:04–2:41
2
How is Connor Griffin performing as the Pirates’ starting shortstop in Bradenton?
2:41–6:02
3
What does the 50‑50 chance of Griffin opening the season in the minors mean for Pittsburgh?
6:02–8:23
4
Why are the Pirates calling Griffin, Schemes and Cruz “unicorns” and how does that affect the roster?
8:23–11:10
5
How will the World Baseball Classic schedule impact Griffin’s development and the Pirates’ lineup?
11:10–14:42
6
What factors allowed Connor Griffin to stay at No. 9 in the draft despite concerns about his size and swing?
14:42–17:38
7
What incentives does the Pirates have to promote Griffin early and could a rookie award boost their draft pick?
17:38–20:49
8
When can we expect a decision on Griffin’s role after the WBC and what does it mean for the Pirates’ 2026 season?
20:49–22:56
Speakers
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