Mississippi native Konnor Griffin has been called up to the Big Leagues.
The 19-year-old Jackson Prep alumnus and former Gatorade National Player of the Year is set to make his major league debut in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener versus the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Griffin is expected to take over as the team’s shortstop and would be the first teen position player to debut since star outfielder Juan Soto in 2018.
Opening Debut. pic.twitter.com/ILemWfjIHS
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 2, 2026
Griffin was the No. 9 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, electing to go pro straight out of high school instead of playing at LSU, where he was committed at the collegiate level. Griffin quickly elevated in the minor league ranks, ending the 2025 campaign as the MiLB’s consensus player of the year. After the promotion of Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, Griffin was subsequently ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
As a minor leaguer, Griffin batted .336 with a .420 on-base percentage, logging 168 hits, 21 home runs, and 95 RBI in the process. He also had 68 successful stolen base attempts.
Griffin earned an invitation to Pittsburgh’s big-league camp but was cut before the opening day roster was announced. In Grapefruit League play over the spring, Griffin hit a trio of home runs, but also struck out more than a dozen times and posted a suboptimal .171 batting average.
He began the 2026 season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians before being called up to the highest level of the sport. Griffin’s debut will occur at PNC Park with the first pitch scheduled for 3:12 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on MLB.TV.