Konnor Griffin was a Dominant Two-Way Baseball Star at Jackson Prep Before Entering the Pros

Griffin, a Jackson (MS) native, was a Baseball America and Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honoree

Jackson Prep's Konnor Griffin (22) pictured here high-fiving teammate Gardner Young (2) after scoring a run in the 2024 season, is set to make his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. | Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jackson, Mississippi native Konnor Griffin is less than two years removed from playing high school baseball, but he has rapidly made his way through the professional ranks.

Griffin, the consensus top pro baseball prospect, is set to make his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in their home opener against Baltimore Orioles on Friday (April 3).

Before he punched his ticket to the Big Show, Griffin was a standout shortstop, center fielder and pitcher at Jackson Preparatory School.

Griffin’s 2023 season included .537 batting average with eight home runs and 19 stolen bases. On the mound, Griffin was 7-1 with a 1.38 earned-run average (ERA).

A strong junior campaign led to Griffin playing in the High School All-American Game at T-Mobile Park – home of the Seattle Mariners.

Griffin’s 2024 season is where he shined the brightest. He hit .559 with nine home runs, 39 runs batted in, 76 runs scored, a .690 on-base percentage and stole 87 bases out of 89 attempts.

On the bump for the Patriots, Griffin went 10-0 with 0.72 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 67.2 innings of work. He also held opposing batters to a .127 batting average.

Griffin also guided Jackson Prep to a 39-4 record and the program’s seventh straight MAIS Class 6A crown. When it was all said and done, Griffin was part of four of the Patriots’ state championship teams.

His overall performance led to Griffin being named the 2024 Baseball America and Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year.

“Konnor Griffin is everything you would expect out of the top high school player in the nation,” said Ryne Long, head coach at Ocean Springs High School. “As far as skill goes there’s no question that he stands above the rest. The most impressive thing to me was how he carried himself as a leader and competitor. He was constantly communicating with his teammates and giving words of encouragement. With the kind of pressure and spotlight that’s on him at all times, he always carried himself like a professional and with class.”

Griffin reclassified from Jackson Prep’s Class of 2025 to 2024 and committed to LSU baseball.

But Griffin quickly transitioned to the pros after he was selected ninth overall by the Pirates in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft. Griffin pulled his commitment from LSU and went on to sign a $6.53 million contract.

Griffin, who was also named the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, competed with three different Pittsburgh-affiliated teams last year. In more than 120 games, Griffin hit .333 with 21 homers, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored and 65 stolen bases.

Now, the 19-year-old phenom is set to make his Pirates’ debut this weekend.

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