Konnor Griffin’s first official play in the major leagues was a grounder to his shortstop position, which he handled and threw to second base for the third out in the top of the first inning, just like he had done dozens of times while playing for Jackson Prep.
Cool. Calm. Focused.
Only instead of playing in front of several hundred fans on Lakeland Drive in Flowood, the 19-year-old Griffin – the youngest player to make his major league debut at shortstop since Alex Rodriquez in 1994 – was playing on the biggest stage in baseball, in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in their home opener Thursday afternoon in front of sellout crowd of 38,986 at PNC Park. It was the first sellout since June of last year when the Pirates had a Paul Skenes bobblehead giveaway. Skenes was the National League Cy Young winner this past season…