Fort Myers, Florida — Connor GriffinThe pittsburgh pirates‘The latest player can’t be missed and Consensus No. 1 prospect in baseballdid not fail against boston red sox and newcomer ranger suarez On Tuesday.
The 19-year-old shortstop hit two long home runs in Pittsburgh’s 16-7 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox.
Griffin took a pitch from Suarez, who signed a five-year, $130 million deal with Boston in January after two standout seasons in Philadelphia, and crushed it 375 feet over the left field wall for a two-run homer in the second inning.
Two innings later, Griffin did it again – turning on a two-strike pitch. seth martinez And sending it 440 feet away.
“Got some good swings, so fouled them out,” Griffin told reporters afterward.
The 6-foot-4 Griffin, who bounced through the lower levels of Pittsburgh’s farm system last season, started the day searching for his first hit of the spring and finished it with four RBIs and a pair of swings that offered a glimpse of his potential.
“We have to keep in mind he’s 19 years old,” manager Don Kelly told reporters. “It’s about constantly putting pressure on him, allowing him to be himself and play freely.”
Griffin acknowledged that having success against two proven major league pitchers – Suárez was an All-Star in 2024 and Martínez has appeared in more than 100 games over the last five seasons – was “special,” but he said he was trying to stay in the moment and not get caught up in who he was facing.
“I stepped into the box and I was ready to compete,” Griffin said. “I wasn’t worrying about who was on the mound. I was just worrying about what his stuff was and how I could get the best view.”
Suárez, who allowed two runs and three hits with two strikeouts in 1⅔ innings, tipped his hat to the young player who was 12 when Suárez made his major league debut. philadelphia phillies In 2018.
“When you’re the top prospect in the game, that’s what people expect from you,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “He did it today, and I’m not surprised.”
Griffin has tried to keep his head down while the buzz remains around him as the reigning National League Cy Young winner. Paul Skenes Did it during his first spring training with the Pirates two years ago. Skenes began the 2024 season in the minors before making his big league debut in May.
Chances are Griffin won’t have to wait that long. There is uncertainty on the left side of the Pirates’ field. Jared Triolo Is an excellent defender who can play third or short Nick Gonzales is also in the mix. However, neither one has the potential at the plate that Griffin provides.
“He’s definitely going to hit,” Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski Said about Griffin. “There aren’t a lot of swings that you see, especially in a teenager. The best way to say it is his swing is always in the same area.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
