Konnor Griffin, who played for the Louisiana Knights during the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series during our 2021 National Tournaments, has been promoted to the big leagues by the Pittsburgh Pirates and will become our ninth active player at the MLB level after his anticipated debut on Friday night.
Griffin, just 19 years old, is also reported to be signing a lengthy, lucrative contract extension after the promotion, which would not affect the team’s PPI status…but we’ll get to that later this week.
The consensus number one prospect in baseball, the six-foot-three, 222-pound switch-hitting shortstop was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis to start the season and appeared in just five games before getting the call; he hit .438 with an RBI and three stolen bases over that time, posting a 1.196 OPS along the way thanks in large part to five walks and three doubles. Overall, he’s been a .336 career MiLB hitter since the Pirates took him ninth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, giving him a massive $6.53 million bonus to get him out of a college commitment to LSU.
Griffin was both a pitcher — up to 91 at the time — and a hitter at our event five summers ago, and our scouts identified him as having “Silver Slugger potential” at the time, with a ceiling as a “high level, impact player.”
About New Balance Future Stars Series
The New Balance Future Stars Series presented by Program 15 is a global platform for amateur baseball development and scouting, powered by a commitment to impact, integrity, and player-focused innovation. Its alumni can be found throughout professional baseball, and its events and partnerships have reshaped how talent is identified, nurtured, and celebrated.
Connect with New Balance Future Stars Series by visiting our website, www.futurestarsseries.com, by visiting our YouTube page, and by checking out the social media channels below.
X: @ftrstarsseries | Instagram: @futurestarsseries | Facebook: New Balance Future Stars Series
Since 2003, he has covered multiple World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked eight Super Bowls, 12 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,300 games covered in his career.
An avid trading card enthusiast, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son, future No. 1 overall draft pick in 2042, William, their beloved dog, Bailey, and occasionally well-behaved cat, Smokey.
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