Tag: Konnor Griffin

Top LSU signee Konnor Griffin ultimately signs overslot deal with Pirates

The pipe dream of Konnor Griffin not signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates and somehow ending up in Baton Rouge has come to an end.

The pipe dream of [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag] not signing with the [autotag]Pittsburgh Pirates[/autotag] and somehow ending up in Baton Rouge has come to an end. Griffin has officially signed with the Pirates for $6,532,025.

Griffin was one of the best prep prospects in the 2024 MLB draft and he did not have to wait long to hear his name called. He was picked with the ninth pick of the first round by the same team that took [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

The slot value for the No. 9 pick in the draft was $6,216,600 but after the Pirates signed every other player they took in the draft, they still had an excess of $315,425 that they could add onto Griffin’s contract.

The Gatorade National high school player of the year will now begin his major league career in rookie ball for the Pirates and hopefully, we will see him playing with Skenes in Pittsburgh one day.

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LSU’s top baseball signee Konnor Griffin remains unsigned after 2024 MLB draft

One of LSU baseball’s top signees in the 2024 recruiting class has yet to sign his pro contract.

One of LSU baseball’s top signees in the 2024 recruiting class has yet to sign his pro contract. The deadline for him to sign is 4 p.m. CT on Thursday.

[autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag] is one of the best baseball players in the country, regardless of his just being a high school kid. Griffin signed his letter of intent to play for LSU but no one assumed he would make it to Baton Rouge because he was an early-round pick in the [autotag]2024 MLB draft[/autotag].

Everything played out how people thought it would as Griffin was drafted in the first round by the [autotag]Pittsburgh Pirates[/autotag]. As the No. 9 pick in the draft, the slot value for his pick is $6,216,600. When it comes to high school kids being drafted early, most of the time the team who drafts him will pay over the slot value to get him to sign.

The Pirates may have to do just that to sign Griffin, who remains unsigned at this moment. If Griffin does not sign with the Pirates, he can still go to LSU and the Pirates would get a compensatory pick in the 2025 draft.

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LSU baseball brings 7 top-100 signees to campus after 2024 MLB draft

The Tigers add an elite freshman class to a transfer portal haul that ranks No. 1 in the nation.

The 2024 MLB draft really couldn’t have gone much better as far as LSU’s purposes go.

While things were mostly chalky when it came to current players — with [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Braswell III[/autotag] announcing their returns to Baton Rouge after they weren’t selected. And while several of LSU’s top high school signees — namely [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag], [autotag]Cam Caminiti[/autotag] and [autotag]Kale Fountain[/autotag] — will sign with a professional club, the Tigers are bringing in an unreal freshman class.

In total, seven top-100 signees will reach campus. That’s in addition to a transfer portal class that already ranks No. 1 in the nation.

Outfielder [autotag]Derek Curiel[/autotag] announced his decision to attend LSU ahead of the draft, and he was joined by elite pitching commit [autotag]William Schmidt[/autotag] and prized catcher [autotag]Cade Arrambide[/autotag].

The Tigers had a disappointing season in 2024 coming off a national title campaign. Though they turned things around in the back half, they couldn’t get out of the Chapel Hill Regional.

Now, coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] is reloading with a roster that looks to be as competitive as any in the country.

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Top-15 high-school prospect Cade Arrambide withdraws from MLB draft, will attend LSU

The Tigers saw two top-15 prospects withdraw from the draft on Sunday night.

LSU got some huge news ahead of the 2024 MLB draft as pitcher and No. 5 national high school prospect [autotag]William Schmidt[/autotag] announced that he would be pulling his name from the draft and heading to Baton Rouge.

Now, he’s been joined by another elite member of the Tigers’ 2024 signing class.

After going unselected in the first 74 picks on the first night of the draft, catch [autotag]Cade Arrambide[/autotag] announced that he would be removing his name from the draft and joining the Tigers for the 2025 season. Arrambide is the No. 13 player in the 2024 class, according to Perfect Game, and No. 2 catcher.

He’s also the No. 2-rated player in the state of Texas.

https://twitter.com/ArrambideCade/status/1812699865987637716

The top two commits in LSU’s 2024 class, [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Caminiti[/autotag], were both drafted in the first round on Sunday night. However, with Schmidt and Arrambide joining outfielder [autotag]Derek Curiel[/autotag], the No. 10 player in the nation who withdrew from the draft last month, the Tigers will add a trio of top-15 recruits to their roster next season.

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Another LSU signee drafted as Boston Bateman goes to Padres in 2nd round

Boston Bateman became the third member of LSU’s 2024 signing class to be drafted on the first night.

With the 52nd pick of the [autotag]2024 MLB Draft[/autotag], the [autotag]San Diego Padres[/autotag] selected [autotag]Boston Bateman[/autotag], a left-handed pitcher from Camarillo, California.

Bateman was another member of Jay Johnson’s talented 2024 recruiting class. He is a 6-foot-8, 240-pound lefty who throws gas and has a nasty curveball. I was hoping Bateman would slip through the first few rounds and wind up in Baton Rouge, but it appears he will end up in his home state after being drafted by San Diego.

Bateman was rated as the No. 57 overall prospect according to MLB.com and was one of the top 10 pitchers out of the high school class. The draft slot value of the No. 52 overall pick is $1,762,500. Bateman joins [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Caminiti[/autotag] as LSU signees who have heard their names called on night one of the MLB draft.

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Top LSU signee Konnor Griffin drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 9

The No. 1 prep prospect in the 2024 MLB draft heard his name called early on draft night.

The No. 1 prep prospect in the 2024 MLB draft heard his name called early on draft night.

[autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag] is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound outfielder who is committed to playing for LSU but he is a generational baseball prospect. Although [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] landed him in the 2024 recruiting cycle, it was always highly likely that Griffin would be swept away by an MLB team.

Griffin was the first prep player taken in the 2024 MLB draft and he was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The No. 9 slot in the draft has an estimated value of $6,216,600. To land Griffin, the Pirates may have to pay over slot value to keep him from going to Baton Rouge.

The Pirates made a splash when they took [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] with the No. 1 overall pick last year and they made a splash again this year by taking the best prep hitter in the draft.

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LSU’s Tommy White heads to Blue Jays in latest MLB mock draft

Tommy White is a projected top 20 pick in MLB.com’s latest mock draft.

The MLB draft is just around the corner with the first round set to begin on July 14. It’s typically a busy time for a handful of LSU baseball players along with commits as they wait to hear their name called. For some, that comes with a choice: turn pro or play for LSU in 2025.

Two names expected to turn pro and be first-round picks are LSU third baseman [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] and commit [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag].

In the latest MLB.com mock draft, the Blue Jays select White with the No. 20 overall pick.

“Huge combine the first year, really hit the ball hard, and he’s continued to do so in three years in college at NC State and LSU. He wound up hitting 75 home runs in three seasons,” MLB.com’s Jim Callis wrote.

White is MLB.com’s No. 15 draft prospect. His scouting report says White is known for his power, but he also possesses and underrated ability to make consistent contact.

The same mock draft slotted Griffin No. 10 overall, joining former LSU baseball player [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] in the Nationals organization.

“In terms of his ceiling, I think he’s got the highest ceiling in the draft.” Callis wrote, “You’re talking about a potential 30-30 guy who could be a plus defender at shortstop or a Gold Glove center fielder.”

Despite his commitment to LSU, Griffin’s projected draft slot likely takes college out of the picture. It’s rare for a player of his caliber to arrive on campus, but LSU fans will hold out hope until it’s official.

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LSU baseball commit named National High School Player of the Year

Konnor Griffin may not make it to campus as he’s a possible top-10 pick.

One of the most prolific players in high school baseball this season has added a new honor to his name. [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag] has been named the [autotag]National High School Player of the Year[/autotag] by [autotag]Perfect Game[/autotag].

Griffin is committed to playing for [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] and the LSU Tigers next season but the fact is that he may never make it to the Bayou. Griffin is the No. 9 overall player in the draft according to MLB.com’s prospect rankings for the [autotag]2024 MLB draft[/autotag]. He is the No. 1 prospect in the Prep Rankings.

Griffin had a mind-blowing Senior season at Jackson Prep. The Patriots went 39-4 and won the state championship in their class. Griffin finished the season with a .559 batting average, a .690 on-base percentage, nine homers, 76 runs scored and 87 stolen bases.

As much as I want to see this guy in purple and gold next season, I believe he will be one of the top 10 picks in the 2024 MLB Draft.

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Top high school prospect Konnor Griffin discusses potential of playing for LSU baseball

Konnor Griffin likely isn’t making it to campus as the top high school prospect, but he discussed his commitment at the MLB draft combine.

With the MLB draft next month, LSU holds a pledge from the top high school prospect in the country, [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag].

It’s doubtful Griffin makes him to campus. Prospects of his caliber rarely do. Griffin sat down with MLB Network at the combine and discussed the possibility of playing at LSU.

“LSU is a special place,” Griffin said, “Jay Johnson, what a great coach he is. He’s a winner. It would be super cool to go play in Baton Rouge for LSU and I have two great opportunities ahead of me.

“It’d be cool to go play in Baton Rouge. The fans are unreal. I know they would like me to make an appearance in Baton Rouge. We’ll see what happens. Two great opportunities, but I’m gonna be ready for either one of those.”

Griffin, a Mississippi native. is MLB.com’s No. 9 overall draft prospect. He was Gatorade’s National High School Player of the Year and stole 87 bags as a senior.

The five-tool potential is there and Griffin projects to be a plus defender whether he plays shortstop or centerfield.

Again, the likelihood of Griffin ever wearing the LSU uniform is slim, but fans can hope.

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LSU baseball commit Konnor Griffin named the 2023-24 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year

Konnor Griffin was named the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year.

Konnor Griffin has been named the 2023-24 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. It is yet another big recognition for the LSU commit who has certainly set the standard in high school baseball this year.

In 43 games this past year for Jackson Prep (Jackson, Mississippi), he showed his versatility and high ceiling for the next level with LSU. Griffin hit .559 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs. He also went 10-0 on the mound, allowing just seven runs and 30 hits across 67.2 innings pitched.

(Photo by Joe Greer, Courtesy of Gatorade)

He is the eighth-ranked prospect in July’s MLB draft. He is projected as the first high school player to be selected. PerfectGame ranks him as a 10.0 in their player projections.

Griffin now joins a group of Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year that includes the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Clayton Kershaw and Gary Sheffield among four MVP winners and 27 players who were eventually selected in the first round of the MLB draft.

Griffin committed to LSU in December 2022.

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