Konnor Griffin Hits .325 Over 22 Games After Turning 20 for Pirates

6 articles · Updated · SportsNet Pittsburgh · May 18

The 20-year-old Pirates shortstop has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games, a sharp turnaround after a slow major-league start.
Over his last 22 games, Griffin is batting .325/.374/.518 with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBI, six steals and 0.9 WAR while continuing to play strong defense at shortstop.
That surge followed a .182/.247/.242 opening 19-game stretch with no home runs and 22 strikeouts before Pittsburgh stuck with its top prospect.
April 24 marked the inflection point: Griffin collected three hits and a homer on his 20th birthday, then added two more hits the next day.
The breakout is reinforcing industry hype around Griffin, whom one AL executive told The Athletic ranks in the Bryce Harper-Mike Trout tier of all-time prospects.

After a historic slump and surge, is Konnor Griffin truly on the path to rival Mike Trout?

Does Griffin's turnaround prove elite prospects should face major league pitching sooner, despite initial risks?

Is Konnor Griffin's $140M contract a masterstroke or the biggest gamble in Pirates history?