Pittsburgh Pirates fans aren’t known for having reasons to cheer. They haven’t made the postseason since the 2015 season, which ended in a 4-0 loss in the wild card game to the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates last won a playoff game in 2013, and haven’t won a playoff series longer than a single game since 1992. That’s not a misprint; they have quite literally not won a best-of-5 or best-of-7 postseason series in 34 years.
On Friday, however, Pirates fans finally got another big reason to celebrate.
Konnor Griffin, the consensus top prospect in Major League Baseball, made his big league debut on Friday afternoon in the team’s home opener at PNC Park against the Baltimore Orioles. After reportedly agreeing to a record-breaking contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh for the next nine years, though the team has yet to officially announce it.
And immediately, Griffin showed why expectations for him are so high.
Griffin, whose prospect rankings exploded this winter after a dominant season in the minors in 2025, came up to the plate for the first time in the second inning, with Ryan O’Hearn on first base. After chasing a couple sliders off the plate, Griffin spoiled a close 1-2 pitch, and got a curveball right on the outside corner from Kyle Bradish.
And demonstrating the plate coverage and strength evaluators have raved about, he crushed it 106 mph into the left center field gap for a run-scoring double. Pirates fans went nuts.
Video from the stands showed just how big the reaction was inside the building.
That’s what you love to see. Griffin then followed it up by immediately scoring from second on a ground ball single from Jared Triolo, showing off the speed that led to 65 steals last year.
He then worked a walk in his next at bat, before striking out in the 6th inning and tapping back to the pitcher in the 8th. But none of that could take away from the impressive start to his MLB career, showing off all the potential Pirates fans have been dreaming about.
It’s been a long time since the Pirates roster has been this exciting, with Griffin and reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. Whether owner Bob Nutting is willing to invest more around them remains to be seen, but for now at least, it’s easy to dream about Pittsburgh finally having a legitimate contending team again.