First Pitch, First Hit, First Win

Konnor Griffin, the Pittsburgh Pirates' most heralded prospect, made an unforgettable MLB debut on Friday at PNC Park, smashing an RBI double in his very first at-bat to spark a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the home opener.

Batting seventh and starting at shortstop in front of a sellout crowd of 38,986, Griffin launched a 1-2 curveball from Kyle Bradish at 105.8 mph into the left-center gap, opening the scoring in a four-run second inning.

"It was awesome. Getting a win was the cherry on top. That was hands down one of the best days of my life," Griffin said.

History-Making Teen

Griffin, who doesn't turn 20 until April 24, is the first teenage position player in MLB since Juan Soto debuted in 2018 and the youngest Pirate to collect a hit on debut since Bill Mazeroski in 1956. He is also just the fourth teenager (since 1920) to record both a walk and an RBI in his debut.

Adding to the poetic nature of the day, Mazeroski was honored in pregame ceremonies, and his son Darren was the scout who signed Griffin following the 2024 Draft.

Five-Tool Talent

The ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Griffin hit .438/.571/.625 in five Triple-A games before the call-up. Last season he batted .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, and 65 stolen bases, earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award. He finished the day 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.