Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly is excited for the 2026 season and can’t wait to see what the Pittsburgh Pirates accomplish this year.
One reason why is Konnor Griffin. MLB’s consensus No. 1 prospect has been lighting up spring training this year, impressing everyone with his long home runs, advanced skills and overall maturity. It’s easy to forget that he’s only 19.
During a recent interview with MLB Network at spring training, Kelly explained what stands out to him about the young phenom.
“Man, 19 years old, unbelievable kid. When you get to meet him today, you’re not gonna think he’s 19,” Kelly said. “Just the way he carries himself. The physicality, you see the talent on the field. Maybe even a better person. How he goes about it, how he works. I just can’t say enough good things about Konnor…He’s gonna be a big leaguer for a long time. It’s how do we continue to help him develop and be the best version of himself.”
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With three home runs and six RBI in eight spring training games so far, Griffin already appears well on his way. Time will tell if he makes the Opening Day roster or opens the season in the minor leagues, but his future is incredibly bright. It’s only a matter of time until he’s flourishing for the Pirates, perhaps as their hitting version of Paul Skenes.
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