Pirates manager Don Kelly is excited about Konnor Griffin's extension

Pirates manager Don Kelly is excited about Konnor Griffin's extension originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Pittsburgh Pirates retained their shortstop of the future in Konnor Griffin after signing a nine-year ($140 million) contract extension on Wednesday.

Even though the 19-year-old has struggled in his first handful of games, hitting . 176 with four strikeouts, Griffin has all the tools to be a star in the game. One person who is happy to have Griffin around for the next nine years is his manager and Pittsburgh native, Don Kelly .

More News: Pirates retain shortstop Konnor Griffin for the next 9 years “It's really cool when you sit back and you think about growing up in Pittsburgh and, you know, being a pirates fan, and now to have Konnor [Griffin] locked up for nine years that we know he's going to be here, and he's going to be part of this team, and part of the winning team that he's already, you know, impacted in such a short amount of time,” Kelly said to Kevin Gorman of the Tribune-Review Sports . “Can't say enough about him as a person, what he means to the team on the field and what he's going to mean to the community off it as well. ” The Pirates are showing signs of competitiveness early Despite only playing 11 games, the Pirates (7-4) have looked good out of the gate, sitting a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers (8-3) and the Cincinnati Reds (8-3) for the top spot in the National League Central.

The Pirates' offense has done well to put up runs this season (ninth in baseball, 52), and their starting pitching has been even better; the Pirates' starting staff has allowed one home run in 53. 2 innings . The Pirates have done all this even after reigning Cy Young award winner, right-hander Paul Skenes, was shelled on Opening Day by the Mets.