Why so many superstars are struggling + Konnor Griffin joins the show

Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

ESPN Radio

Sports

3.7 • 4.3K Ratings

🗓️ 13 May 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Welcome back to the Baseball Tonight Podcast! Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin joins the show to discuss his adjustment to life in the Big Leagues, the toughest pitchers he's faced, and his favorite ballparks he's played in so far. Hembo then swings by to share why several stars, including Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are struggling. Then injury expert Stephania Bell goes in-depth on Tarik Skubal's surgery. We end with Bleacher Tweets about the Orioles and Padres! 0:00 Intro + Top of the First 2:21 Konnor Griffin Joins 2:48 Griffin's favorite MLB ballparks 4:46 Adjusting to MLB travel 5:58 Best pitchers Griffin has faced 7:22 First time being asked for an autograph 8:16 Paul Skenes' dominance 9:46 State of the Pirates 11:57 Players Griffin is looking forward to meeting 12:55 Griffin's first purchase after signing contract 13:53 Hembo joins the show 14:27 Konnor Griffin's improvement 18:26 Struggling Superstars: Ohtani, Guerrero Jr., Raleigh, Tatis Jr., Henderson 31:00 Stephania Bell breaks down Tarik Skubal's surgery 41:06 Bleacher Tweets: Orioles and Padres Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service.
0:11.6	And now you can check if you already have ESPN unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls.
0:17.3	Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming
0:23.4	in the ESPN app. It's all the ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now.
0:32.5	This is the baseball tonight podcast for Wednesday, May 13, 2006.
0:38.0	Brought to you by La Quinta by Wyndham.
0:41.1	Tonight, La Quinta, tomorrow you shine.
0:44.4	I'm Buster Only.
0:45.2	Kenny Lagan is producing in place of our friend Taylor Schwank.
0:48.6	And man, we have a great show today.
0:50.6	I've never spoken to Connor Griffin.
0:52.8	The Young Pirate Shortstop. He's going to join us
0:55.2	on the show today. We're going to be talking with Paul Mbikidis about struggling superstars. And
1:00.2	Stefania Bell, ESPN's injury expert, going to join us to talk about what Scott Borris told us
1:05.4	the other day about this new surgery, the scubal surgery, as Boris called it the other day,
1:10.4	how that could impact
1:12.1	pitching surgeries as we go forward. But first, top of the first is brought to you by
1:18.1	Lakinta by Wyndham. The Giants had a big breakout Monday night, winning 9 to 3 in Los Angeles.
1:25.0	Raphael Devers is swinging the bat really well, but maybe the most noteworthy part of this,
1:30.7	the Dodgers continue to struggle.
1:32.5	That's eight losses in their last 12 games.
1:34.9	The loss of Monday night was their fourth straight loss.
	...

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