Konnor Griffin’s freak talent isn’t even the thing Pirates fans should be most excited about

By now, every Pittsburgh Pirates fan (and, really, every MLB fan) knows about Konnor Griffin's prodigious talents. The consensus No. 1 overall prospect in baseball, the 19-year-old shortstop is a true five-tool player in every sense of the word.

The No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Griffin proved any and all doubters wrong in his first full professional season. He hit .333/.415/.527 across three levels last year, getting better at each stop along the way; he peaked in his 21-game cup of coffee with Double-A Altoona, posting a .337/.418/.542 slash line with a ridiculous 175 wRC+.

For all those reasons and more (including his sterling glove), there are expectations that Griffin will make his MLB debut in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later, despite the fact that he's a teenager just 122 games into his pro career.

And, according to newly acquired outfielder Jake Magnum, Griffin's greatest asset isn't even one of his many on field skills. It's his intoxicating work ethic.

"I appreciate the fact that Konnor works like he's not any good," Magnum said in an appearance on Foul Territory. "He works his tail off, but then you watch him and he's a freak talent. ... There's nothing he does that doesn't just wow you. Lifting, jumping, throwing, swinging — whatever he does, you're just like 'oh my gosh, this guy is a freak.'"

Konnor Griffin hype train threatens to go off the rails with latest comments from Jake Magnum

It's hard to believe that someone who prospect guru Keith Law of The Athletic called "the most exciting prospect we’ve had in the minors since Mike Trout" could generate any more hype and excitement, but here we are.

The last can't-miss, must-watch prospect in baseball was Paul Skenes just a few years ago, and we've seen how that's worked out thus far. A future of Pirates baseball featuring Griffin and the reigning Cy Young Award winner has fans simply salivating.

For his part, Magnum figures to feature consistently in left field in 2026, though he'll have to contend with top prospect and fellow trade acquisition Jhostynxon Garcia for playing time. Originally acquired in the same trade that landed Brandon Lowe in Pittsburgh, the 29-year-old Magnum is a speed-and-defense outfielder who posted a 95 wRC+ in his first taste of MLB action last year.

The young core that Ben Cherington has spent all offseason building up is nearly ready to take the field together, and the excitement is palpable. After more than a decade of rebuilding, the Pirates are ready to contend again behind Griffin, Skenes and the rest of their retooled roster.