Konnor Griffin made his major-league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their home opener and lived up to the hype of being baseball’s consensus top prospect by hitting an RBI double in his first at-bat, then scoring a run in the 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on April 3 at PNC Park.
Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million contract extension April 8. He celebrated his 20th birthday on April 24 by going 3 for 4 with his first big-league home run in a 6-0 win at the Milwaukee Brewers.
His Pirates teammates pranked the rookie shortstop with a belated birthday celebration by having an inflatable bounce house, along with a kiddie table with crayons and coloring books, in the home clubhouse. Not only did Griffin laugh, but he belted his first homer at PNC Park in the ninth inning of an 11-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Griffin, who is batting .231/.290/.341 with two doubles, a triple, two homers, 13 RBIs, 10 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 26 games, spoke to TribLive Pirates beat writer Kevin Gorman about his first month in the majors:
How has your life changed since you signed the contract?
It’s a little sense of peace. I know I’m going to get to be here for a long time, get to play this game for a long time. There’s nothing more freeing than knowing I get to show up and be a baseball player every day. I don’t have to worry about trying to make a living for my family. Everything is taken care of, so it’s been pretty freeing.
Have you treated yourself to any purchases since you signed?
Not really, man. I’m really just focused on making sure my body is feeling good. I’m eating well and making sure we have a good spot to live in out here. I’m focused on the important things right now.
You had an 0-for-14 streak before you signed. How did you deal with your first scuffle as a major leaguer?
That was just a crazy week. There was so much going on with the debut and getting ready to finalize the contract stuff. Being able to know that everything was done, now I just get to play baseball. That was the most freeing thing. I know there’s going to be some ups and downs. I’ve still got a long way to go until I’m the player I want to be. It’s just going to take experience and being thrown in there every day is the best thing for me — the consistent playing time and getting thrown into the fire. I’ve figured it out at every level so far, and I have a big belief that I’ll be able to figure things out. It just takes a few good games and you can catch a hot a streak. I’m going to continue to try to find those streaks and roll with it.
What was it like to hit your first major-league home run in Milwaukee?
It was super cool to get that one out of the way. I’ve been working hard for that. To do it on a fastball, too, was big for me. It gave me a bolt of confidence, and I’m just rolling with it.
And to do it on your birthday…
That was a cool day. A three-hit day. We got the win. I got to celebrate with my wife when I got to the hotel. It was the best birthday in a while and one of the best games I’ve had. It was a fun day.
What is it like to have Dendy traveling with you?
It’s awesome. Better than going back to the hotel room with no one to talk to. My person is there. I look up, and she’s in the stands. It’s a sense of comfort. It’s the reason we got married. We wanted to travel together and do this life together. It’s definitely a blessing for me.
What was it like to meet your older brother Kannon’s twins, your twin niece and nephew?
I met them for the first time in Dallas. The family drove up from Mississippi, so that was a special moment. That was cool to finally get to meet them because they were born while I was at spring training and I haven’t had a chance to get home.
What was it like to find a surprise waiting for you with the bounce house in the home clubhouse when you came home to PNC Park?
That was funny, just a cool, little jolt of energy for the clubhouse and created some team chemistry, for sure. I’m used to it at this point. I just try to take advantage of it and enjoy because you’re only a rookie one time. I’m having a good time with everybody.
Then you hit your first home run at PNC Park. How did it feel to go opposite field?
That was awesome. I wish it was in a bigger moment, but to get that one out of the way was a good feeling in front of the fans. I’m good when my sights are center field and right-center, just taking my hits the other way. Not trying to do too much and trying to pull stuff, just taking what the game gives me.
Your first month in the majors has had its highs and lows. How much more do you think you have to show that we haven’t seen?
There’s definitely a lot more I have to show. There’s been little glimpses of different tools that I have. It’s all going to come together eventually, the full athlete in me. It’s really about the experience, feeling comfortable and being able to play freely. That’s the goal every day. It’s different experiences for me. I’m trying to get as comfortable as I can in these games.
Do you have a favorite moment so far?
A first AB double. That was unbelievable. The crowd that we had, scoring a run and winning the game. That was probably the best day so far. It was a cool moment.