The second was a majestic 440-foot shot to left center off Seth Martinez that had an exit velocity of 111.2 m.p.h. The ball sailed far over the Florida Green Monster.
“Everybody’s out here just playing baseball. So I stepped in the box and I was ready to compete,” Griffin said. “I really wasn’t worried about who was on the mound. I was just worried about what his stuff was and how I could have the best approach against that.”
Get Starting Point
What most impressed Red Sox manager Alex Cora about Griffin came in the sixth inning when he grounded out.
“Yeah, the homers are great. But then he had a groundball to third base and he busts his [butt] going to first. … That’s the mark of a pro, a good player.”
Griffin is a 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound shortstop who has incredible power and speed. His physical tools are reminiscent of a young Alex Rodriguez but with better speed, and he’s more than good enough defensively to stay at shortstop.
“He’s only 19, give it a shot,” Cora said. “This whole thing about big kids can’t play that position, let’s wait and see. He’s a good one.”
The other impressive thing about Griffin on Tuesday was that he signed about a dozen autographs coming off the field as other players walked by the fans quickly. He then seemed genuinely surprised four reporters were waiting to talk to him.
Griffin spoke more about it being a good day for the Pirates that what he personally did on the field. His composure and professionalism for somebody in his second year of pro ball was remarkable.
“We got some good swings off, so kind of smoked them. That was a great win for us,” Griffin said. “We’ve been working really hard this spring, and it’s showing for a lot of our guys right now.”
Griffin hit .333 with a .942 OPS, 21 homers, and 65 stolen bases over 122 games at three minor league levels last season. He has yet to play in Triple A, so making the Opening Day roster might be out of reach. But you could see him on the same field as Paul Skenes sometime this season, and that’s a combination anybody would want to watch.
The Pirates are not yet positioned to challenge Milwaukee in the National League Central. But they could be a team playing for something in September after losing 91 games last season.
They have Skenes fronting a rotation that includes Mitch Keller and 23-year-old Bubba Chandler, a highly regarded prospect. They also added second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, and designated hitter Marcel Ozuna during a busy offseason. They should improve a lineup that scored the fewest runs in baseball last season.
The Pirates also bring back first baseman Spencer Horwitz and right fielder Bryan Reynolds, their top two hitters last season.
Center fielder Oneil Cruz sharply regressed in 2025, his OPS falling from .773 to .676. At 27, Cruz has to prove the hype early in his career wasn’t overstated.
The Pirates also see catcher Henry Davis as being at least being a force defensively. The first pick of the 2021 draft has a .556 OPS in 186 major league games despite a .965 OPS over 79 Triple A games.
“Ozuna is a power bat we can put in the middle of the lineup. Lowe has presence. The back of his baseball card speaks for the impact he can have on a team,” manager Don Kelly said. “Pitching is the foundation but I do think we’re going to be able to score runs. The goal is [playing] more than 162 games.”
The additions gave the Pirates a luxury tax payroll of $127 million, a team record and $19 million more than last season. That’s tip money for the Dodgers but a significant boost for Pittsburgh.
“They did a lot of intriguing things in the offseason,” Cora said. “They added some veterans and they’ve got good pitching — they really do. They play the game hard. They have some big kids in that organization. We saw it; they’re very physical.”
Ben Cherington, now in his seventh season as general manager, spent the winter chasing offensive upgrades and hopes he can refine the lineup a bit more before Opening Day.
“We’re still working at it,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll find some opportunities to add to the offense. But certainly we feel better about the depth of the lineup. The division is going to be tough. We see as a very competitive division. … We know we’re going to have to be at our best to compete.”
I asked Griffin how much he was looking forward to hitting one over the real Green Monster some day.
“That would be special,” he said. “Seen a lot of really cool home runs go over that big wall. So eager to join that club.”
You’ll be seeing him soon.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has played every position in the field save for one, but hopes to complete the cycle with work at first base this spring for the Red Sox. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
TOUCH ‘EM ALL
Kiner-Falefa eager to play first
The Red Sox have had Isiah Kiner-Falefa taking grounders at first base. He couldn’t be more pleased.
Kiner-Falefa has played every position except first during his career, even appearing in six games as a pitcher. He is eager to check first base off his list.
“I’ve played a lot of second base so I’m comfortable on that side of the field,” Kiner-Falefa said. “It’s just getting the footwork down. I hope I get a chance to play there. It would be fun to say I played all nine positions once my career is over.”
Kiner-Falefa played 119 games with the Pirates last season before he was traded to the Blue Jays. The trade made sense for Pittsburgh at the time, but manager Don Kelly was sorry to see Kiner-Falefa go.
“Oh, man. He can play for me anytime,” Kelly said. “Good at-bats, makes contact, plays good defense wherever he is. He’s a great athlete.”
Kiner-Falefa has averaged 2.4 bWAR and 8.4 defensive runs saved over the last five seasons. That versatility adds a lot of value, which is why he commanded a $6 million contract as a free agent despite a .631 OPS last season.
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
▪ Kelly on righthander Johan Oviedo, who the Sox obtained from the Pirates in a multi-player trade: “Really tough guy to give up. I respect Ovi and what he’s gone through in his life [fleeing Cuba] and then last year coming off Tommy John surgery. He bounced back and gave us good meaningful innings at the end of the season. He’s a great competitor and he’ll continue to get better.”
▪ Alex Cora loves Caleb Durbin.
“He’s a good baseball player,” Cora said. “We got a good one. It doesn’t matter where he plays, he’ll be playing a lot and he’s going to be playing against lefties and righties and be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Like any manager, Cora appreciates the small things Durbin does. He has mentioned Durbin’s aggressive leads, hustling between bases, his accurate throws and quick reactions defensively.
“He plays low and he’s explosive. He has a great first step,” Cora said.
The Sox will decide soon whether Durbin plays second or third as they want their infielders to get plenty of work together during spring training. Cora also is high on first baseman Willson Contreras, who has shown sure hands.
Sox first basemen have minus-12 defensive runs saved the last three seasons. Only five teams have been worse.
▪ An agent reached out last season criticizing Kristian Campbell and his representation for accepting an eight-year, $60 million contract and giving up the potential to make considerably more via arbitration and free agency.
For now, it looks like a brilliant decision. Campbell was demoted to the minors in mid-June last season and seemingly has no path to make the Opening Day roster this year barring injuries. But that $60 million is guaranteed.
The 23-year-old is being developed as an outfielder after struggling at second base last season. The Sox remain hopeful he can make the adjustments needed to be a productive player.
As chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said last year when the deal was announced, both sides take risks with a long-term contract. For now, that risk is biting the Sox.
Campbell spent some time with David Ortiz last week. Big Papi feels like Campbell has turned a corner with his swing changes.
“I saw him at this time last year and I knew he needed to make an adjustment,” Ortiz said. “Those mechanics were going to be tough for him. He can get to the pitch a lot better now.”
▪ Prepare yourself for some unusual lineups in the coming weeks. The Sox have 14 players from their 40-man roster headed off to the World Baseball Classic, and some may not return until March 18. There will be a lot of minor league call-ups to fill the gaps.
“It’s going to be empty,” said Cora, who has been busy talking to WBC managers to make sure the Sox players get the work they need to prepare for the season.
Legendary umpire Bruce Froemming was literally the man in the middle just before the famous 2004 scrap between Red Sox captain Jason Varitek (right) and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Chin, Barry Globe Staff
▪ Sox fans fondly remember the fight between Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez back in 2004. The man in the middle of that brawl, umpire Bruce Froemming, passed away last week. He was 86.
Rodriguez reacted angrily after Bronson Arroyo hit him with a pitch. Froemming tried walking Rodriguez to first base but he started cursing at Varitek and punches were thrown.
Froemming wisely got out of the way as the benches cleared and chaos ensued. Froemming called 5,163 major league games over 37 seasons starting in 1971. Only Joe West (5,480) and Bill Klem (5,373) had more. Froemming began his career in the minor leagues in 1958.
ETC.
What a difference a year makes
Shane Smith was a Rule 5 pick trying to make the White Sox at this time last season. Now the righthander from Danvers and The Governor’s Academy is an All-Star who could start on Opening Day at Milwaukee, his original team.
Smith, who turns 26 in April, was 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA over 29 starts and 146⅓ innings for Chicago last season. He ended last season strong, allowing seven earned runs over 21 innings in his final four starts and striking out 27.
“He understands that he’s a dude on this team,” White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters. “In camp last year he was trying to prove that he was a dude on this team.”
What a difference a year makes for Danvers native Shane Smith, who has risen from a Rule 5 pick to an All-Star starter for the White Sox. Nick Wass/Associated Press
A year ago, Smith was trying to avoid being sent back to the Brewers. Now he’s preparing for the season.
“Every day still matters, obviously,” Smith said. “But it’s just what do I want to work on today that’s going to set me up better for maybe five weeks from now, six weeks from now, rather than my next outing has to be perfect in order to do it.
“Just trying to get better each day. Some days it looks different, some days it looks the same, but that’s really all I’m trying to do.”
In Smith, Sean Burke (Sutton), Sean Newcombe (Middleborough), and Mike Vasil (Wellesley), the White Sox have four Massachusetts natives on their roster. The group worked out together in the offseason.
David Ortiz and Juan Soto live in the same luxury apartment complex in Santo Domingo and see each other quite often. Ortiz feels Soto is misunderstood as a teammate. “He doesn’t talk much. He goes about his business,” Ortiz said. “He’s like [Dustin] Pedroia. Pedroia wasn’t a guy who was going to tell you how to do things. He was going to show you how to do things. Soto is like that. He’s not a talker. If you want to learn, follow what he does.” Ortiz also was thrilled to see Andruw Jones elected to the Hall of Fame. In his mind, hitting 400-plus home runs and winning 10 Gold Gloves was Cooperstown worthy even if Jones was less effective in the final six seasons of his career. Ortiz also marveled at how Jones played so shallow in center field and rarely let a ball get over his head. “You give me 10 years, you dominate for 10 years, you’re in,” Ortiz said … With CC Sabathia’s No. 52 set to be retired in September, the Yankees will have a whopping 24 numbers out of commission … Tarik Skubal will pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic — but only to a point. The Tigers ace is likely to start a game during pool play then drop off the roster. “I understand the need to be [with the Tigers] and get ready for the season,” Skubal told reporters. “I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect.” The best for him, but not necessarily for the other players who will be with the team for the entire tournament. If the other Team USA starters can get ready for their seasons, so can he … Scouts will be flocking to see righthander Dylan Cunningham of Austin Prep in Reading this spring. The 6-3, 215-pound sophomore from Peabody is one of the top pitchers in the high school class of 2028. Cunningham combines a mid-90s fastball with a sharp curveball. As he gets older and stronger, the fastball should pick up even more velocity. Cunningham has yet to select a college, although that may not matter if he develops into a first-round pick … Infielder Max Burt, who played for St. John’s Prep and Northeastern, agreed to a minor league contract with the Tigers after spending seven seasons in the Yankees organization … Phil Cuzzi, an umpire for 27 seasons, has retired. Mark Carlson, who umpired for 26½ years, became a supervisor, and Jordan Baker was promoted to crew chief. He had the plate for Game 7 of the World Series last fall … Happy birthday on Monday to Don Schwall, who will be 90. The righthander was 24-22 with a 4.09 ERA for the Red Sox from 1961-62. Schwall was signed out of the University of Oklahoma in 1958, choosing baseball over basketball. He started the ’61 season with Triple A Seattle and made his major league debut on May 21. He was 15-7 with a 3.22 ERA, winning the American League Rookie of the Year and appearing in the All-Star Game at Fenway Park. Schwall pitched three innings and allowed one run, striking out Stan Musial along the way. Schwall was traded to the Pirates after the ’62 season, along with Jim Pagliaroni, for righthander Jack Lamabe and first baseman Dick Stuart. Schwall played parts of seven seasons in the majors and was 49-48. He retired after the ’67 season and had a second career as a stockbroker.
All eyes are on the Red Sox’ younger players this season, but is it too much too fast? Chad Finn and Ben Volin discuss.
Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.
