Konnor Griffin doesn’t just have a breakout rookie season and a massive contract extension on his résumé. He also has a direct line to one of the sport’s biggest stars.
The Pirates shortstop has built a friendship with Angels center fielder Mike Trout, and this weekend gave the two a chance to meet face-to-face for the first time as Los Angeles visited Pittsburgh at PNC Park. Before the games, they talked during Pirates batting practice, a continuation of a connection that started through a mutual friend. Both are avid baseball card collectors, and Griffin said their shared faith mattered most to him.
“Yeah, it’s cool," Griffin said about Trout to SportsNet Pittsburgh. "I watched him a lot growing up and there’s only a few guys that have been in my same position, which is really cool to compete against those guys and just pick their brains on the situation and how they handle stuff at a young age. Yeah, it’s really cool.”
That relationship became especially valuable when injuries slowed Griffin down this season. He missed 22 games from May 31 to June 25 with a right forearm flexor strain, then sat out 50 more from July 7 to Sept. 3 with a left ring finger sagittal band tear. Trout has dealt with plenty of physical setbacks of his own in recent years, including a right knee contusion that limited him to 36 games in 2021, a left hamate fracture that held him to 82 games in 2023 and a left knee meniscus tear that kept him to 29 games in 2024.
Griffin said he leaned on Trout for advice during that stretch.
“I think I texted him, “You got anything for me? I know there’s been some situations where you had to go through this.” So it’s just cool to pick his brain with that,” Griffin said.
Trout has welcomed the role. He said he’s happy to help a younger player navigate the same kind of grind he’s lived through.
“Yeah, you know, obviously, last few years I’ve been through it, the way to handle it. It’s a new thing for him," Trout said to SportsNet Pittsburgh.
"It’s a tough game on your body. We play a lot of games and you got to take care of your body and that was just a freak thing when he dove, talking to him and I’m glad he came back.
Just trust the rehab process that can get him back quick and he’ll be back out here and he got back sooner than expected, so it’s good.”
There’s another obvious thread tying them together: the hype. Griffin entered 2025 as baseball’s top prospect and debuted in the majors on April 3 at 19.
Trout was also the top prospect in the game and made his debut at 19 on July 8, 2011. Griffin said the comparisons show up online and give him something to chase.
“Yeah, yeah, I see stuff online that shows comparisons and it’s cool," Griffin It gives me something to compete against, try to be where he is. I mean, he’s a great player, so, if i can try to chase those numbers, then maybe my career will turn out like his.
The Angels had a chance to take Griffin in the 2024 MLB Draft with the eighth overall pick, but the Pirates grabbed him with the next selection. Trout said he follows the draft closely and wasn’t surprised by what Griffin has become.
“You can tell he’s legit," Trout said. "He’s got the build of a shortstop; he can play.
You seen how fast he can run last night. Can change games.”
“Yeah, I think the way he plays the game, it looks like he just has so much fun doing it. The thrill, the excitement he brings.
He can hit the ball out of the ballpark, or he can lay down a bunt and beat it out. You know, it’s a special talent at shortstop.”
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