NS9LIVE! went on the road Wednesday night, setting up at The Cut Golf & Grill in Palmetto, Florida as the crew dug into the first Pirates spring training storylines.
The headliner was the Konnor Griffin conversation. Early in camp, the “fun story” felt like a long shot. A week later, the tools are louder: contact, exit velos, and a confidence that looks real against Grapefruit League pitching. As Colin Beazley told us, the path is simple — leave no doubt. That’s the bar, and Griffin is forcing the Pirates into a tougher decision than anyone expected.
Jason Mackey added the beat-writer view on how quickly narratives flip this time of year, and why Pittsburgh has to weigh development against the immediate spark Griffin could bring.
From there, the discussion widened to the biggest swing factor on the big-league roster: Oneil Cruz. The athleticism is undeniable, but the margin for error in the outfield is slim, and every rep matters. If Cruz gets on base and turns singles into chaos, it changes how this lineup scores.
We also hit the pitching depth question, including Bubba Chandler’s early looks and how the rotation/relief mix could shake out as innings get stretched. Add in the new vibe around Don Kelly’s camp compared to last year, and you can feel why optimism is trending up.
Catch the full episode on North Shore Nine — watch or listen, then tell us: would you carry Griffin north if camp ended today?
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