PITTSBURGH — After Konnor Griffin made his major league debut on Friday, he said he was looking forward to Saturday.

Why? He’d get to “flip the switch,” focusing on what’s next and the grind of a major league season instead of the pageantry of the debut. Then came Wednesday and another flipped switch, as Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million extension to stay with the Pirates through 2034.

After Wednesday’s series finale, Griffin boarded the plane as not just a 19-year-old phenom, but a player both learning to be and paid to be the Pirates’ face of the franchise. He’s still the same teenager, but the Pirates have committed a significant sum to him to be what they believe he can be.

Griffin’s played just six major league games, so the biggest answer to “what’s next” for him is simply more development for him at the major league level and, the Pirates hope, reaching his potential as quickly as possible. But here’s a look at what else is coming in the immediate future for Griffin and the Pirates as both sides begin the next nine years.

What’s next for Griffin on the field?

There’s been ups and downs throughout Griffin’s extremely limited time in the majors so far.

There’s been times when he’s looked like the prodigy he is, notably the debut double, a few diving stops, and flashing the speed when he scored from first Tuesday. There’s also reminders that he is 19 — he’s 3 for 18 in the incredibly, incredibly small six-game sample size.

“I've only played five games, and I'm remembering that and I'm trusting the work I'm putting in,” Griffin told the Post-Gazette on Tuesday, the day before his extension was announced. “I put myself in a good spot every day to go out and compete. I just let God take over from there. So, whatever happens, happens. I'm gonna compete one pitch at a time and be a tough out. That's my goal, and the success, it'll be there.”

It’s important to be patient, both for Griffin and with Griffin. Any prospect will take time to adapt to the majors, especially one with a combined 26 games above High-A before his debut.

Some never adapt, though Griffin has shown enough early that all are confident he will. Sure, it hasn’t been perfect, but no one expected it to be.

I think you kind of bake that expectation in with most players, no matter how talented they are,” general manager Ben Cherington said Tuesday. “There is a transition period in the major leagues. Part of the calculus of trying to call a player up is the conviction that they're equipped to handle that, whatever comes with that. We have a very high belief with Konnor to do that.”

Manager Don Kelly agreed.

“We know there are going to be speed bumps along the way,” Kelly said. “He’s gonna adjust. He’s gonna dominate that. I think the thing that has stood out to me is he’s been the same guy every single day.”

Griffin’s not going to bat .167 for his major league career. He’ll have the runway to make mistakes, as the Pirates have called him up to stay.

Over the next few months, he’ll get more and more comfortable against major league competition. The defense and baserunning are already stellar, something that will help the Pirates regardless of the hitting, and that portion will come. What’s next for Griffin is simply getting used to this level.

“That's the most important thing is you show up,” Griffin said. “One day, my defense may be the highlight of my day, and that's OK. That's what the team needs. I don't have to be this crazy offensive hitter because I have such good guys around me. I can just be a piece of the puzzle and that's all I need to do.”

What’s next for Griffin in the clubhouse?

As negotiations progressed, Griffin asked Cherington how his Pirates teammates would feel about him signing such a deal. Early results are in: They’re thrilled for Griffin.

“He’s set,” Brandon Lowe said. “The weight, the pressure, all that kind of stuff, kind of gets lifted a little bit off of him. Obviously, there’s still living up to the contract and living up to what everybody's put on his name, but it's a little bit easier when you're not worried about options or all that kind of stuff. He just gets to go out there and be Konnor Griffin.”

By all accounts, the young shortstop has handled himself well so far. Everyone has the same disbelief in his age, but all enjoy having him around.

“It still blows my mind that he’s 19 years old,” Ryan O’Hearn said. “... He just seems like a complete player and a guy who’s gonna impact every game he plays in for a long time.”

“He's super young, but he's got his head screwed on really well,” Bryan Reynolds said. “That just speaks to who he is. He's just a good kid.”

Griffin has done well to lean on others for advice as he handles the transition to the big leagues. He said the transition “has been super smooth,” naming Jake Mangum and Henry Davis as two of the many players who have helped him.

Mangum and Braxton Ashcraft have the lockers next to Griffin. Davis, two lockers down, has gotten to share some sage advice.

“Just trying to eliminate some of the mistakes I made along the way,” Davis said. “That's what we can help people with going forward. Walking the path a little bit earlier, just [helping him] navigate things, whether it's ‘what bus should I be on,’ or ‘what time can I hit?’ Little things like that.”

Lowe can also share experience, both as a nine-year major league veteran and as someone who signed an eight-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays after just 43 major league games. While the dollar signs and circumstances weren’t the same, he does have some advice.

The biggest one is finding somewhere to call home. Griffin can get comfortable — he’ll be in Pittsburgh for nine years.

Lowe’s also confident the Pirates have the right leaders in the clubhouse to aid Griffin’s transition. It’s not the old days — no one wants to make life hard for the rookie.

“We're in here, we're trying to win, and we want the best out of him,” Lowe said. “The best way to do that is make him feel like he's one of the guys. He's fit in seamlessly. We're really excited to see — what do we got left, 150-something games — so let's see what that looks like out of Konnor Griffin.”

What’s next for the Pirates?

Wednesday’s news was seismic for the Pirates, a decision that was celebrated by Griffin’s camp, the organization and the fan base. It’s a statement of intent toward not only 2026, but toward opening a window of contention through 2034.

Not only is Griffin’s deal the largest in franchise history, but it also sets Griffin up to be the face of the franchise. If the Pirates weren’t interested in winning, they wouldn’t have made this sizable a commitment to a player like Griffin.

It’s something players noticed.

“I think it says a lot about both sides,” O’Hearn said. “Konnor, his family and also the organization, the commitment to winning. I’m excited. I’m really excited with our team and everybody in this locker room. Today’s special for Konnor and for us, for sure.”

“It's a really good thing for the team,” Davis agreed. “[Positive] signs about the direction we're headed and what we're building. [It’s] super encouraging.”

The Pirates have been doing the right things to build a winner, as shown by an entirely homegrown rotation. Wednesday was just the latest move.

“Drafting well, developing well and creating a foundation of a team that’s going to win for a long time,” Paul Skenes said. “It’s another step in the right direction, I think.”

The deal doesn’t guarantee a spending spree from ownership or that the Pirates will continue with extensions, though they have historically shown willingness to do these types of deals.

But beyond raising payroll, this is the type of positive move that can affect perceptions around the league. Perhaps the next free agent the Pirates go after is more interested in joining the franchise and playing with Griffin. Or perhaps the next prospect to race through the minors — Seth Hernandez? Edward Florentino? — sees Griffin’s commitment to the franchise and is interested in doing the same.

It could even affect players within the clubhouse, if one performs well and justifies a longer-term commitment. As the reigning Cy Young winner and a player poised to break arbitration records starting in 2027, Skenes has little incentive to engage in extension talks. But down the road, someone like Bubba Chandler could be a more realistic candidate.

So what’s next for both sides? Getting comfortable. The Pirates have their guy, Griffin has security, and the two can get used to each other for the next nine years.

The switch has been flipped. For Griffin and the Pirates, there’s plenty to look forward to.

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