![\"Konnor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Griffin-3-1120x630.jpg\")
Photo provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
As Konnor Griffin makes his way to the right-handed batter\u2019s box at PNC Park with \u201cNobody\u201d by Casting Crowns featuring Matthew West playing over the speakers, he makes a brief detour before stepping in for his at-bat.<\/p>\n
Griffin takes a moment to draw a cross in the dirt with the top of his bat at the edge of the circle surrounding home plate. It\u2019s a small gesture of something that means so much to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always drawn a cross, ever since I was a high school player,\u201d Griffin said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a routine that I have to try and give God the glory as many ways as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ever since he was a child, Griffin has been a devout Christian, something that was instilled in him by his parents, Kevin and Kim.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Griffin\u2019s faith has shaped him into the person and the player that he is today, one who went from a highschooler, to a first-round draft pick, to the consensus top prospect in baseball, to a $140 million man all within a two-year span.<\/p>\n
Even with everything that\u2019s happened, he\u2019s never lost sight of what comes first.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents kept me in the church a lot,\u201d Griffin said of his upbringing. \u201cOnce I moved away from home to start my professional career, I just wanted to continue having that as the most important thing in my life. Continued to go find churches in the communities that I was spending time at and I will continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Griffin took part in the Pirates\u2019 annual faith night at PNC Park, an event where a handful of players and coaches sit on the field in front of hundreds of fans after a game.<\/p>\n
Griffin, along with his wife, Dendy, were among those who were seated on the first base line to hear what others had to say on Saturday after the Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds<\/a>, 17-7.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was great giving my support to something that I feel so strongly about. Getting to hear the testimonies of Tony Beasley, [Michael] McKenry, [Brandon Lowe] and Isaac [Mattson] who all spoke. It\u2019s just cool to hear their stories. You never really know everybody\u2019s real story until they get to share it.\u201d<\/p>\n For Griffin, faith gives him perspective. When he\u2019s going through struggles \u2013 like the growing pains he endured during his first few weeks as a teenage big-leaguer \u2013 his belief provides him with comfort, which is one explanation for the impressive level-headedness he shows for someone his age.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just my place to find peace,\u201d Griffin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Not many players in baseball have received more attention than Griffin since he was called up to\u00a0 the big leagues a little over a month ago. As the game\u2019s top prospect, and one who almost immediately signed a franchise-record contract, Griffin joined the Pirates with high expectations as a franchise cornerstone.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 20-year-old is not only one of the most popular players in Pittsburgh, but someone who\u00a0has the ability to become one of the faces of Major League Baseball. And with that, Griffin will be able to share his faith to an even-larger audience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019m called to play baseball and use my platform for the right reasons,\u201d he explained. \u201cThat\u2019s just how I was raised and how I\u2019m gonna continue to lead my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Konnor Griffin<\/a> Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n