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A fit for Detroit Tigers? Konnor Griffin has highest upside for prep bat in 2024 MLB draft
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- A fit for Detroit Tigers? Konnor Griffin has highest upside for prep bat in 2024 MLB draft
For two years, Konnor Griffin — the 2023-24 Gatorade National Player of the Year — had the green light to steal bases as often as he wanted at Jackson Prep in Flowood, Mississippi.
The 18-year-old skipped his sophomore year by reclassifying, so he only played three years in high school, and in his final season, he stole 87 bases in 89 attempts.
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He has the potential for 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
"I give the guys freedom," said Brent Heavener , Jackson Prep's baseball coach. "As long as you're stealing bases and not getting thrown out, you've got the ability to run when you want to. I basically shut them down and tell them we're not running, but with him, I didn't say that."
Griffin, a right-handed hitter who plays shortstop and center field but projects as an outfielder because of his size, is one of the top two high school position players in the 2024 MLB draft, along with shortstop Bryce Rainer .
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The consensus is that he has the highest upside as an all-around hitter among the high schoolers in this year's class, and he appears to be a fit for the Detroit Tigers — but only if he is available Sunday when the Tigers make their selection with the No. 11 overall pick.
Griffin, an LSU commit, has drawn comparisons to Fernando Tatis Jr. — a two-time All-Star and a Gold Glove right fielder who began his career as a below-average shortstop — for his combination of speed and power.
"He has a chance to play on the left side of the infield, but he also could be a center fielder, right fielder with the speed and the arm," said Tyler Jennings , the director of draft content for Prospects Live . "I've got him as the highest upside of a prep bat in this class. Really projectable and physical at the same time. It's a great mix for the body. Potentially plus power with a lot of bat speed and loft to the swing."
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For Jackson Prep, Griffin — at 6 feet 4 and 210 pounds — was a human cheat code as the leadoff hitter with his .690 on-base percentage. He almost always scored what seemed like an automatic run in the first inning.
If he hit a single, he would steal second and third base, then score. If he hit a double, he would steal third base, then score. The two times he was thrown out on the bases: Trying to steal home on a back-pick and trying to steal second base on a pitchout. He set the single-season records at Jackson Prep with 76 runs, 87 steals and 47 walks in his third and final season.
Griffin also holds the all-time steals record at Jackson Prep, with 120.
"Something switched this summer," Heavener said. "He's always had great speed. This year, he really focused on reading pitchers, getting good jumps, and he realized, with that 6-4 frame body, he can get a big lead at first base. Some teams, it was easy to run, but then, he stole some big bags off some good catchers."
Konnor Griffin poses for a photo with his coach, Brent Heavener, after receiving his trophy for Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year at Jackson Prep in Flowood, Miss., on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
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In 2024, Griffin hit .559 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 47 walks and 10 strikeouts in 43 games, spanning 171 plate appearances. He utilized the whole field to become a complete hitter and developed a two-strike approach to make more contact in those situations.
Above all, his bat speed stands out, giving him incredible power potential.
"Watching him swing, sometimes you see a kid trying to hit a home run," Heavener said. "His swing is consistent with good bat speed. It's really impressive when he's swinging the bat. But then he's able to make an adjustment with two strikes, and not just put the ball in play, but still have good swings and make good contact."
Griffin was limited in 2023 — his second season — because of a non-throwing shoulder injury. He wasn't able to hit while recovering from the shoulder injury, but he continued to pitch for Jackson Prep.
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He dominated as a two-way player in high school.
On the mound, Griffin registered a 0.72 ERA with 26 walks and 107 strikeouts across 67⅔ innings in 14 games in 2024. His fastball has been recorded at 96 mph with above-average extension, accompanied by a nasty slider.
Griffin, despite the pitching success, is expected to be a position player with an impact bat throughout his professional career.
He played shortstop at Jackson Prep, but he seems most likely to find a home in the outfield in the future. Whether he plays center or right field — if not shortstop or third base — depends on how his body grows as he gets older.
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"Most people have him as an outfielder," Heavener said, "but for us in high school, we wanted the best athlete at shortstop. As he played shortstop over the years, scouts have watched him and think he has a chance to play infield at the next level. It really benefited both of us. His arm really helps him because he's got a strong arm from the outfield, so obviously, he's got the arm to get the ball across the infield from any position. It's given him another leg up in the draft because he's so versatile."
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Heavener raved about Griffin's preparation on the field.
The Jackson Prep baseball program — a dynasty at the high-school level — has won seven championships in a row in the highest classification of the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools in Mississippi, including three with Griffin on the roster.
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"He was determined in his senior year that it wasn't going to be the year we lost it," Heavener said, "and he really took control of the games in the playoffs and in the state championship."
Off the field, Heavener points to Griffin's makeup.
His character is more impressive than the way he plays baseball.
That says a lot.
"I couldn't be more proud of him and the young man he's becoming," Heavener said. "His faith is very strong to him. He has been a tremendous ambassador for our school and our baseball program. He takes time with kids. You can't always teach that, but he makes everybody around him feel important, from teammates to little kids. I have a 4-year-old little girl, and to watch them interact with each other, it's so much fun as a coach and a dad, and it's not a show. It's just the type of person that he is."
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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 MLB draft fit for Detroit Tigers? Konnor Griffin has big upside
