There isn't a negative syllable to be conceived, much less spoken about Connor Griffin.

And believe it or not, that even applies to everybody who acquired and developed him to date.

Good morning to you.

Good.

Tuesday morning, I'm Dan Kovanovich of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports.

This is Daily Shot of Pirates.

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Griffin, the consensus number one prospect and the entire sport of baseball was named Baseball America's minor league player of the year.

That is not a surprise to say the least.

He has been beyond remarkable. He's been brilliant. I think that's the safest way to summarize what he's done. It's in a lot of ways not different than what Paul Skeens did through the system,

except that it had been way, way, way more universally expected of Skeens,

which of course makes it that much more commendable, I'd say, that Griffin

in his first professional season. A 2024 first round pick slashed over three levels culminating

with AA Altoona. 333, 415, and 527. He had 21 home runs, stole 65 bases, you heard me right, had 94 RBIs over

122 games. He's the only player over the last 20 full minor league seasons, again, spanning all levels.

To have a season in which he hit at least 300, homered at least 20 times, stole 60 plus bases,

and scored 100 plus runs.

Again, this one's worth the repeat because it's nuts.

Only Blair to have done that over the past 20 years anywhere at all in the minor leagues.

And if that wouldn't have gotten your attention, he logged 89 games at shortstop 15 in center field.

Staying at shortstop, that's something that scouts talk about a lot, especially when an athlete is much, much younger than Griffin.

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