Pirates reminded of wild Konnor Griffin reality after big Cardinals-JJ Wetherholt news

The St. Louis Cardinals made a major commitment to their future on Friday by signing rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension. The deal could reportedly reach $132 million through performance bonuses, placing Wetherholt among the latest young stars to secure generational money before completing his first full Major League season.

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, however, the news also serves as a reminder of just how differently the 2024 MLB Draft could have unfolded. Wetherholt was selected seventh overall by St. Louis that summer, two picks before the Pirates drafted Konnor Griffin at No. 9. And according to a story published Friday by Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Cardinals had explored the possibility of selecting Griffin themselves.

The particularly wild part? St. Louis expressed interest in drafting Griffin as a pitcher.

Griffin was one of the most fascinating prospects in the 2024 class because of his rare two-way talent, but his upside as a shortstop and center fielder ultimately made him Pittsburgh’s target. The Pirates needed several teams ahead of them to go in other directions, and that's exactly what happened.

Pirates reminded how close Cardinals came to stealing Konnor Griffin in 2024 MLB Draft

The Cleveland Guardians passed on Griffin with the first pick. The Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies and Athletics followed. When the Chicago White Sox selected Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith at No. 5, Pittsburgh began to believe Griffin might actually reach them. The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis had both shown interest, but the Royals chose Jac Caglianone and the Cardinals took Wetherholt. The Los Angeles Angels then selected Christian Moore at No. 8.

Suddenly, Griffin was a Pirate.

Two years later, the significance of that sequence is even clearer. Wetherholt has immediately established himself as a foundational player for the Cardinals, producing an above-average offensive season while emerging as one of baseball’s best defensive second basemen. St. Louis has now rewarded him accordingly.

Griffin has done the same in Pittsburgh. His rapid rise through the minors and early success in the majors convinced the Pirates to give him a nine-year, $140 million extension, making him one of the centerpieces of their attempt to build a sustainable winner.

The Pirates deserve credit for identifying Griffin and being aggressive enough to secure him once he fell. But there was also an unavoidable element of fortune involved.

The Cardinals were interested. They picked only two spots earlier. They simply preferred Wetherholt — and apparently viewed Griffin differently than Pittsburgh did.

St. Louis may have landed its franchise infielder. Pittsburgh believes it landed something even rarer.

The Cardinals’ extension of Wetherholt is a celebration of their own draft decision. For the Pirates, it is another reminder that Griffin’s path to Pittsburgh depended on one of the best prospects in baseball somehow surviving eight picks — and one division rival deciding to let him pass.

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