Pirates’ Konnor Griffin Uses Brewers Series to Take Huge Step

PITTSBURGH — Konnor Griffin has had his struggles from the plate as a rookie, but he's showing growth and improvements that the Pittsburgh Pirates desperately need.

Griffin has been excellent through two games against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field and is putting on quite the show for the Pirates.

He had a great first game, where he hit his first home run in the major leagues, a solo shot into the Pirates bullpen on his 20th birthday, making both franchise and MLB history in doing so.

Griffin also had a single in the top of the fifth inning and stole a base, then had an RBI-single in the top of the ninth inning, scoring two runners in the 6-0 win and finishing with his first three-hit game as a major leaguer.

His second game was good as well, leading off the top of the third inning with a single and then hitting an RBI-single in the top of the fourth inning, putting the Pirates up 2-0 in the eventual 6-3 win in extra innings.

Griffin compiled five hits over eight at-bats over these two games and it's a big step in his development as a major leaguer.

Why This is Crucial for Griffin Going Forward

The Pirates brought up Griffin ahead of their home opener on April 3 and then signed him to a nine-year, $140 million contract extension on April 8, all within the same homestand.

Griffin is playing in just his third road series, with his first road series vs. the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, April 10-12, and then his second road series vs. the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, April 21-23.

He had just one hit in 11 at-bats against the Cubs and then no hits in 11 at-bats vs. the Rangers, making him 1-for-22 on the road before this series, a .045 batting average.

Griffin had his home run and his single off of Brewers right-handed starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff off of a four-seam fastball and a sinker, respectively, and then hit a cutter on his RBI-single in the top of the eighth inning.