What Cubs prospect learned from a chat with MLB legend Ken Griffey Jr.
![James Triantos Ken Griffey Jr. 2024 Mlb Futures Games](https://dupvhm5r1oaxt.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Triantos-Ken-Griffey-Jr.-2024-MLB-Futures-Games.png)
The Futures Game is always a valuable experience for some of the top young players around baseball.
And for Cubs prospect James Triantos, he made the most of his time in Arlington to kick off MLB’s All-Star Week.
Triantos spoke to MLB legend Ken Griffey Jr. during the Futures Game Saturday for quite some time, taking lessons away from the former 1st overall pick (1987).
“Just trying to learn from him – hitting, asking him anything I can,” said Triantos, who chatted with Griffey in the dugout. “How he was able to be so consistent and repeatable for so long and just let him talk.”
[WATCH: Triantos discuss his MLB Futures Game experience]
Griffey played 22 years in the majors, beginning at age 19 with the Seattle Mariners. He hit 630 homers, drove in more than 1,800 runs and won 10 Gold Gloves during a Hall of Fame career.
“The biggest thing he had for me was that he is his biggest cheerleader,” Triantos said. “Whether things are going well or things are not going well, you still gotta keep a positive mindset and keep going and stay present.”
Cubs prospect Matt Shaw – the team’s 1st-round pick a year ago – was around for some of the conversation and Triantos shared Griffey’s tidbits with Shaw.
[MORE: Shaw on his Futures Game performance]
Triantos, 21, was ranked the No. 73 prospect in the game by MLB Pipeline entering the season. He is hitting .301/.341/.448 (.789 OPS) with 7 homers and 30 stolen bases in 75 games with Double-A Tennessee.
Shaw, 22, was the No. 31 prospect by Baseball America prior to 2024. He is hitting .246/.352/.416 (.768 OPS) with 10 homers and 20 stolen bases in 71 games with Tennessee.