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It must be hard for anyone to fathom being 19 years old, playing professional baseball at the highest level, and earning a long-term and lucrative deal because of it.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin doesn’t have to think about that anymore. He lives it.
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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin works out before making his Major League Baseball debut in the Pirates’ home opener against the Baltimore Orioles on April 3, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Griffin and the Pirates finalized a nine-year contract extension on Wednesday. The contract is worth $140 million, according to multiple reports. The phenom was considered the No. 1 hitter in baseball entering the season, according to MLB Pipeline.
He was called up to the big leagues earlier this month and made his debut on April 3. He hasn’t exactly gotten off to the hottest of starts going 3-for-17 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. But he was 2-for-4 against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn celebrates with Konnor Griffin after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 3, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Griffin, who turns 20 on April 24, received a lot of support from star pitcher Paul Skenes.
“That’s the player that we all know he is and that he’s going to be,” Skenes said. “Sometimes it takes a little bit to break out. It was great to see today. It will be exciting to see.”
He added that Griffin was a “big leaguer through and through.”
Griffin’s deal is the largest contract in Pirates history, according to MLB.com.
“It feels great to know that I’m going to be a Pittsburgh Pirate for a long time,” Griffin said. “The goal is to win every year. And I believe we can.
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin breaks his bat on a throw from San Diego Padres pitcher Germán Márquez and strikes out to end the bottom of the second inning in Pittsburgh, April 6, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
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“It will be nice to have everything behind me and now I can just play baseball.”
