Pirates' Konnor Griffin Attempted to Apologize, but It Didn't Work

(Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

Whenever a prospect comes up in Major League Baseball, there’s typically a learning curve for everyone involved.

That’s been the case for Konnor Griffin and the Pittsburgh Pirates, as Griffin has had to adjust to new teammates, get his first taste of the big leagues, and try to succeed while being one of the top prospects in baseball. That’s not to say Griffin has been perfect to start the year, but he’s done an impressive job for a rookie by being accountable and willing to take ownership when things don’t go as planned.

That was the case in a recent game, when Griffin attempted to turn a double play but ended up spiking the ball, leading to multiple runs. Instead of dwelling on the mistake, he went up to his pitcher, Braxton Ashcraft, and apologized.

The important part of this situation is how Ashcraft handled it. He could have been frustrated about giving up runs that weren’t entirely his fault, but that’s part of the game. Instead of making it a bigger issue, he kept things in perspective and supported his teammate.

“I mean, we talked about it and he came up and said, ‘Hey man, I’m sorry.’ I said, ‘Never apologize to me for the plays you make. Nobody questions the effort you put in, nobody questions the process that you have throughout your work.’ And then he comes back and the next at-bat or the second at-bat after that and hits a triple," Ashcraft said.

"That’s a testament to the professional that he is and the way that he goes about his work and again, he won a Gold Glove in the minor leagues, which is a really hard thing to do. I know that he expects himself to make that play, but again, it’s baseball. Baseball happens. That wasn’t an easy play, at all and it’s part of the game, it’s part of how we go about our process and for him to go out and contribute immediately to the team and to be able to give us a chance to win after that. I mean, if I don’t put two guys on base, that play never happens in the first place.”

It’s always good to hear veterans step up for younger players in moments like this. There are teams around Major League Baseball where a mistake like that could become a much bigger issue, but the Pirates seem to have matured as a group. Whether that’s due to added veteran presence or early success keeping things steady, it’s clearly making a difference.