An anonymous AL executive told The Athletic that Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin is a "freak" and ranks among the most valuable prospects ever—on a Bryce Harper and Mike Trout level.
That praise centers on Griffin's age and tools: he just turned 20, and the executive said he can do things physically that most players—not just most 20-year-olds—cannot.
In 142 at-bats this season, Griffin has shown early promise with 3 homers, 20 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, a .254 average and a .699 OPS.
The strong outside endorsement stands out because it comes from a rival executive, reinforcing Pittsburgh's belief that Griffin could develop into an annual MVP-caliber player.
Hailed as the next Mike Trout, can Konnor Griffin overcome his early struggles to actually live up to the legendary hype?
Is the Pirates' fast-track of Konnor Griffin a brilliant strategy or a massive gamble on a teenage phenom's development?