There are trades that make sense on paper — and then there are trades that feel like something more.
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquiring outfielder Jake Mangum in the Brandon Lowe deal already checked a few logical boxes: speed, defense, contact, versatility. But once the backstory started to surface, Mangum instantly became one of the most intriguing players to land in Pittsburgh this winter — because of his deep-rooted connection to top prospect Konnor Griffin.
Same school. Same baseball culture. Same Mississippi roots. Same offseason grind.
Mangum walked the halls of Jackson Preparatory School years before Griffin became a top-10 pick.