Senate Resolution 51

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN CAREER OF JACKSON PREP'S MULTIPOSITION SENIOR BASEBALL STAR PLAYER KONNOR GRIFFIN.

WHEREAS, Jackson Prep is well-known for producing top scholars, top performers and top athletes. Baseball High School All-American Konnor Griffin is no exception. Seventeen-year-old Konnor Griffin, considered by many experts to be the best high school player in America, pitches and plays shortstop for Jackson Prep, but he could play anywhere on the diamond. Indeed, most Major League scouts seem to believe he will play center field at the highest level; and

WHEREAS, Griffin, a senior, has had an impressive career at Prep as part of the three-time State Championship Baseball Team. A High School All-American, Griffin has traveled the world playing the game he loves. Perfect Game has ranked him second in the country, and he has been invited to play in Perfect Game events, Future MLB events, and the Under Armour All-American Game; and

WHEREAS, Jackson Prep senior shortstop Konnor Griffin has been named to the prestigious 'Golden Spikes' Award Watch List. Griffin joins 54 other high school and college baseball players named to this year's Watch List. Griffin is one of only two high school players to be selected; and

WHEREAS, Griffin was a member of the 18-U USA National Team this fall and competed in the WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) U-18 Baseball World Cup August 31-September 10, 2023, in Taipei City, Taiwan. Griffin also made the 15U National Team three years ago, but the World Cup was cancelled due to Covid concerns. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Griffin has committed to defending National Champion LSU and signed his national letter of intent in November 2023; and

WHEREAS, Griffin also participated in the 2023 High School All-American Game and was one of eight players to participate in the MLB-USA Baseball High School Homerun Derby as part of the Major League Baseball All-Star week in Seattle and played in Perfect Game's Dick's Sporting Goods All-American Classic in Phoenix in the summer of 2023; and

WHEREAS, Griffin helped lead Jackson Prep to its sixth consecutive and Mississippi record MAIS Class 6A State Championship, a 31-4 record, and a No. 19 national ranking by Perfect Game this past spring. He was named a High School All-American and selected as the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Year; and

WHEREAS, a right-handed pitcher, whose fastball tops out in the mid-90s, Griffin had a 7-1 record, and a 1.38 earned run average with 81 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 50 2/3 innings. As a right-handed hitter, Griffin had a .537 batting average with 43 runs, 30 runs batted in, 6 doubles, 2 triples and 8 home runs. Blessed with the ability to hit with power to all fields, Griffin had a .951 slugging percentage; and

WHEREAS, Jay Powell, Prep's Assistant Head Coach who once won the seventh game of the World Series has said, "I'll tell you this. Konnor is the best athlete I have ever been around, and I have been around a few." Powell's Major League teammates have included Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Todd Helton. Brent Heavener, the Prep Head Coach said, "Konnor's special, a special young man. I would say that even if he didn't play baseball"; and

WHEREAS, Griffin is not only a standout on the baseball diamond, but he is also a true teammate and cares about others more than himself. His love of the game is contagious, and he motivates his team with his work ethic; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the remarkable record of this young Mississippi student athlete who has brought honor to his school, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the outstanding High School All-American career of Jackson Prep's multiposition Senior Baseball Star Player Konnor Griffin, and extend the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate to Konner and his family and his coaches as he embarks on the next phase of his baseball career.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Konnor Griffin and his family, forwarded to Brent Heavener, Jackson Prep Head Baseball Coach, and Jay Powell, Jackson Prep Assistant Head Baseball Coach, the Board of Trustees of Jackson Prep, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.