MLB's rookie class is making an impressive impact in early season games
PHOENIX (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin stepped to the plate on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks and ripped a 110. 1 mph laser high off the center-field wall at Chase Field, cruising into second base for a double. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo's jaw dropped almost to the dugout floor.
“Twenty years old and driving the ball off the center field wall,” Lovullo said. “Let's go back to being 20 years old. I was just getting hair under my armpits, and this guy's in a big-league baseball game.
It's impressive. ” Griffin — who just turned 20 a few weeks ago — is part of an MLB rookie class that's made an instant impact as the calendar turns to May. He's batting .
256 with two homers, 16 RBIs and is 8 for 8 on stolen bases, all while playing shortstop at a high level for a Pirates team that has a 21-17 record. No wonder the Pirates were comfortable handing him a $140 million, nine-year deal in April. Lovullo has been the manager of the D-backs for 10 seasons and said he's noticed a huge difference in the readiness of young players when they get to the big leagues.
The data backs that up, too. As measured by Wins Above Replacement, three of the five most productive classes of rookie hitters since 1950 graduated in the past four years, in 2023 (67. 5 WAR), 2022 (53.
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