At 6 feet 4, 215 pounds, Konnor Griffin isn't built like your normal 18-year-old. Combine his physical stature with speed, athleticism and a desire to play the game the right way and one could see the reasons why the Pirates made him the first high school player drafted in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. 

Now, he's utilizing his opportunity with the major-league team this spring to prove the organization right. He took full advantage of his first appearance on Sunday. Griffin drove home Malcom Nunez for the game-deciding run with an RBI-single to right field in the bottom of the seventh and then came around to score on a Termarr Johnson single after going first to third on an Abrahan Gutierrez single to right field. 

Griffin was taken ninth overall out of Jackson Prep High School in Jackson, Miss. He has all the tools to be a special talent down the line. He's ranked 43rd on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list and carries a 55-overall grade with a 70-arm grade, 65-run grade and 60-power grade. 

The young star showed off all of those talents and more during his first spring outing as fans got their first full look at him.

"That's an athletic human being right there," Derek Shelton said. "It's really cool to see a guy get his first major league hit in spring training. I look up on the board and see 2006 and think, 'Geez, that makes me feel old.' But to get the first hit, then to go from first to third like he did, and to even see him call off (Matt) Gorski on the ball, we saw a culmination of the reasons on why we took him when we took him."

After being drafted, Griffin played in eight games in the Complex League down here in Bradenton, Fla. and said he "felt like it got me ready" for what was ahead of him as he prepared for spring training. While it's only one game, he's showing he's ready for the task at hand. 

One of Griffin's biggest criticisms during the draft was his hit tool. MLB Pipeline graded him with a 50-hit tool and it's something that he told me he's worked on since being drafted. 

"Just being balanced and being calm in the box," Griffin said. "A few mechanical changes with my swing to just help me be short and quick and try to get the barrel out front and good things will happen."

There's also the question of where Griffin will end up defensively. He has the natural athleticism to play wherever he wants but has played primarily shortstop and center field during his baseball career.

The Pirates have said he'll work at both positions during spring training but he made his first spring training appearance in center field on Sunday and tracked down a ball in left center field, calling off Gorski. Ultimately, Griffin doesn't care where he plays but feels more comfortable in center field.

"I think center field comes more natural to me," Griffin said. "So I’m doing all my defensive work in the infield at shortstop and any time in BP I get out there in center field to try and shag balls and keep the skill set just for whenever they want to put me in center, I’m ready to go."

Griffin will play both positions as he rises through the minor-league system. Those in attendance at Pirate City over the last week got a brief look at what the team's future middle infield could look like with Griffin and Johnson, the organization's 2022 first-round pick.

The pair participated in infield drills together where coaches were timing how quickly players could turn double plays. When Griffin and Johnson were paired up they turned a few double plays in under four seconds, the fastest times of the group, and Griffin was able to show off his arm.

"It was pretty cool sharing the middle with him and being up the middle with him," Johnson said. "He has a live arm and he can pick it pretty well so us being able to share that middle was pretty cool."

This was just Griffin's first official game as a Pirate and there's still a long way for him to go. But, he's already made an impression and he's called his time since he's been drafted "wild." 

"It doesn’t feel real yet. But, I’ve had a great three weeks of camp so far and these guys have been awesome," Griffin said. "They’ve really taken me under their wing and showed me the ways of how to be a big leaguer and I’m just thankful for the opportunity to get in the game and try to win the game."