The Pittsburgh Pirates’ first pitch for Friday’s home opener at PNC Park doesn’t take place until 4:12 p.m., but the excitement surrounding Konnor Griffin had fans lining up on the North Shore at 10:30 Friday morning.

While most attend the home opener year after year and had tickets well before Griffin’s call-up on Thursday, the 19-year-old was top of mind.

Ricky Duncan has been planning for the Pirates’ home opener for months.

“I try to go (to the home opener) every year,” Duncan said.

Like many other Bucco fans, Duncan is excited to see Griffin’s debut.

“It’s unprecedented,” he said. “It doesn’t happen a lot that a 19-year-old, a teenager, comes up in the majors.”

Griffin’s arrival symbolizes a new era of hope for Buccos fans.

“I’m excited about all the hype around him and surrounding the team,” Duncan said. “I’m just really excited for the season.”

Waiting at the gates

John Petok was first in line at PNC Park’s center field gate entrance.

“We’re excited to see some baseball, finally,” Petok, of Hampton, said. “It’s been a long winter.”

Practicing a 15-year tradition, his sons Landon, 16, and Greyson, 11, were with him. They arrived at 12:30 p.m. for a 4:12 p.m. first pitch.

Greyson was excited to see his favorite player, Paul Skenes. Landon said he was excited to see Griffin make his major league debut.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Landon said. “He’s close to my age and playing in the MLB.”

Being baseball players themselves, the boys said it was inspiring to see someone close to their age become such a success in a sport they love.

“It’s really cool to see someone that’s a teenager playing in the MLB,” Greyson said.

@triblive Konnor Griffin’s batting practice ahead of his MLB debut at PNC Park for the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener ⚾️ #pirates#mlb#baseball#pittsburgh#opener♬ original sound – TribLive

Practice underway

As of 1 p.m., the parking lots at PNC Park are open, and fans are tailgating outside of the park. Inside, it’s getting real as the players have begun practicing on the field.

Before he got up to bat, Griffin was busy fielding ground balls during batting practice before he makes his MLB debut Friday.

@triblive Today’s the day — it’s the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener. Here’s what the North Shore looks like right now. Stay tuned for more #pirates#baseball#mfb#pittsburgh#live♬ original sound – TribLive

Early arrivals

Friends Kelly Toney and Kristie Campana secured one of the first spots waiting in line to enter Gold Lot 1 on Friday morning ahead of the home opener.

“We love this lot,” said Toney, 40, of Lower Burrell. She and Campana, 42, of New Kensington, arrived at 9:30 a.m. Friday to secure their spots.

They’ve been coming to the opener with their group of 20-30 friends and their families for around 10 years. They all know each other from as early as elementary school in the New Kensington-Arnold School District.

“We love to tailgate; we come with the same group every year,” Campana said. “This is the day that we know we’ll all be together … we don’t see each other a whole lot throughout the year.”

Now, Campana is an X-ray tech and Toney is a librarian at Armstrong High School. Both made sure they were off Friday for the opener.

“We’re baseball people,” Campana said. “This is a guarantee no matter what.”

Toney said she has high hopes for this season, especially with Griffin being brought up.

“I feel like this season we’re going to be better,” she said. “I’m a huge baseball fan — we’re just excited (for) the weather. Rain or shine, we would’ve been here.”

Campana said they had no issues with parking or logistics coming to the North Shore.

“We usually pull up and park,” she said. “There’s usually a little more room.”

Continuing tradition

Mark Yakubisin stayed in the Residence Inn by Marriott right next to PNC Park last night so he and his brother and friends could “get here early.”

He’s been waving his Jolly Roger flag all morning and plans to keep it up for the rest of the day, per usual, he said.

Watching the home opener is a tradition he’s had for more than 20 years — around when the stadium opened. He’s been every year except during the pandemic.

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“Being at the hotel, it’s kind of an isolated take on it. We have the hotel pass to park here — that’s why we do it,” said Yakubisin, 46, of Butler. “We have a room with a bathroom … we always park in the same spot.”

He said the home opener is his way of welcoming summer, especially this year, with Friday’s good weather.

There were no issues with traffic or NFL Draft construction when he came in last night. And that’s continued Friday morning so far.

“There was nothing going on here. I had to run to the grocery store to get ice — that took me about five minutes,” Yakubisin said. “Traffic is fine right now.”

As for the Pirates’ chances, he’s optimistic this season, and he likes the pitching staff.

“It seems like they finally made a couple moves to get some bats, which is nice,” Yakubisin said. “That was a rough first game. We like what we’re seeing with some of the offense.”

He’s also excited about Griffin.

“I think that he seems kind of like a power hitter instead of a consistent hitter, but … we need bats,” he said. “We need guys that can step up.”

Yakubisin’s friend Jason Bratina unpacked the tailgate staples — lunch meat, chips, hamburger buns and other goodies — with efficiency as he set up his spot outside of his car almost five hours before the home opener.

“It’s the home opener,” Bratina said. “I’m always going to get here early.”

Bratina said he’s just following tradition.

“Every year for about 15 years,” he said. “We’re die-hard Pirates fans.”

Bratina and his 19-year-old son, Christian, drove five and a half hours from Indianapolis to make the game. They decided to stay at a hotel so they wouldn’t have to wait in line for the parking lots to open.

Bratina said he’s most excited to see Griffin’s major league debut.

“It’s a game changer,” Bratina said. “The Konnor Griffin decision just solidifies that things are happening (for the Pirates).”

Having grown up in Moon, Bratina said coming to these games is like a reunion. He meets up with friends he grew up with, and this year, he gets to make a lasting memory with his son.

Christian Bratina said he’s been raised to be a die-hard Pirates, Penguins and Steelers fan. Since he’s in his first year of college, he was finally able to make the opening day trip with his dad.

“I’m excited to see all the people,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a super fun day. It’s going to be a great time.”