Pirates Manager Reveals Why Konnor Griffin Is Destined For Greatnes

TL;DR

Konnor Griffin, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop, has had a rough start offensively, batting .152 with no home runs in his first 10 games. However, manager Don Kelly remains confident in Griffin's potential for improvement.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin

Pirates Manager Reveals Why Konnor Griffin Is Destined For Greatnes originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Offensively, Konnor Griffin's Major League career isn't off to a great start. The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie has struggled since making his Major League debut earlier this month, batting .152/.256/.182 with no home runs and 12 strikeouts over his first 10 games.

Defensively, Griffin's been solid at shortstop. His bat will come around eventually, and Pirates manager Don Kelly doesn't sound too worried about him.

Before Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals, Kelly explained what makes the 19-year-old phenom special.

"He's always looking to get better, too," Kelly told 93.7 The Fan, relaying a story from spring training about how Griffin proactively asked coaches how to improve after making a fielding error against the Boston Red Sox.

"It's just the curiosity and the willingness that he wants to get better and continue to grow," Kelly added. "That's Konnor Griffin, and that's why he's gonna be such a great player is because he's always looking to learn and grow and get better."

Despite being MLB's top prospect and a five-tool player, Griffin isn't taking anything for granted. He's hungry to keep improving and becoming the best player possible, so that drive should serve him well throughout his Major League career.

It will also help him snap out of his slump, too. He has the talent, so as long as he's willing to keep putting in the work and making adjustments, it's only a matter of time until he figures things out.

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Q&A

What are Konnor Griffin's current batting statistics in the MLB?

Konnor Griffin is batting .152 with a .256 on-base percentage and .182 slugging percentage, having struck out 12 times in his first 10 games.

How has Konnor Griffin performed defensively as a shortstop?

Defensively, Konnor Griffin has been solid at shortstop, demonstrating reliable fielding despite his offensive struggles.

What is Pirates manager Don Kelly's outlook on Konnor Griffin's future performance?

Manager Don Kelly is confident that Konnor Griffin's batting will improve over time and is not overly concerned about his current offensive performance.