{"id":666462,"date":"2026-04-06T14:26:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/666462\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:26:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:26:06","slug":"konnor-griffins-family-describes-surreal-mlb-debut-with-pirates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/666462\/","title":{"rendered":"Konnor Griffin’s Family Describes ‘Surreal’ MLB Debut With Pirates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things have been moving quickly for Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> rookie Konnor Griffin and his family.<\/p>\n

Just two years ago, he was still a high school senior at Jackson Prep in Flowood, Mississippi. That summer, the Pirates made him their first-round draft pick, taking him ninth overall.<\/p>\n

Last year, he rocketed through Pittsburgh’s farm system in his first season of professional baseball, going from Single-A to High-A to Double-A. After just five games at Triple-A this year, the Pirates decided the\u00a019-year-old shortstop was ready, calling him up<\/a> for their home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3.<\/p>\n

MLB’s top prospect debuted in front of a sellout crowd<\/a> that included his parents, Kevin and Kim, and his wife, Dendy.<\/p>\n

During Friday’s game, Griffin’s family described the experience<\/a> of watching his historic Major League debut<\/a> to SportsNet Pittsburgh’s Hannah Mears.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It’s just so surreal to see this community and this fanbase just wrap their arms around Konnor.” \ud83e\udd79<\/p>\n

Hannah caught up with the Griffin family \ud83d\udc47#LetsGoBucs<\/a> | @mearshannah_<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/r4gvgrIfdh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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“It’s just so surreal to see this community and this fanbase just wrap their arms around Konnor,” Kim said. “Seeing his jersey out there in the stands has just been amazing.”<\/p>\n

She had tears in her eyes several times throughout the emotional afternoon, including after her son’s first Major League hit<\/a> — an RBI double in his first MLB at-bat.<\/p>\n

Kevin, who serves as the head softball coach and associate athletic director at\u00a0Belhaven University, described watching his son’s first career plate appearance.<\/p>\n

“He just had to be patient, and the more he saw spin, I felt like he was in good shape,” Kevin said.<\/p>\n

He also praised his son’s defense at shortstop<\/a>, which aided the team’s first double play of the season.<\/p>\n

“He puts a lot of work in defensively as well,” Kevin noted. “He works hard every day at that, and I feel like that the hard work’s paid off, and I trust him as much as anybody in the world at shortstop.”<\/p>\n

The Griffins are also grateful for the city of Pittsburgh and the Pirates organization for supporting Konnor and giving him a chance.<\/p>\n

“It’s great. They gave him a chance to be in this spot,” Kevin said. “We have a lot of gratefulness for the city of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Pirates management for taking a shot on a kid from Mississippi. This is a great day.”<\/p>\n

More MLB:\u00a0Pirates GM Explains What Spurred Team’s Massive Offseason<\/a><\/p>\n