PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was a Tuesday night game in April, but a 7-1 win at PNC Park over San Diego marked something much bigger. The Pirates two best prospects in decades played on the same field at the same time helping the MLB team win its seventh out of 11 games.
“Yeah I got a front row seat so, getting to see him to do his thing and just the way he prepares for his starts,” Griffin (2-4, run, 2 RBI) said after the game. “Those hitters, as someone said, they don’t have a chance because with how dominant he is and it’s cool to be right behind him.”
“It’s great,” Skenes (W, 6.1IP, 2 hits, run, 6 strikeouts) said, noting he was fired up, calling Griffin a difference maker. “It’s the player that we all know that he is and that he’s going to be. Sometimes, it takes a little bit to break out. It was nice to see today. It’s going to be exciting to watch.”
It wasn’t lost on Don Kelly who at times last year was working with a lineup that struggled to score. Now he’s got the top prospect in baseball in 2023 and 2025 together.
"Big performances,” Kelly said. “Paul on the mound, dominating the strike zone being able to mix and match and then having Konnor makes things look so easy.”
Before mentioning the two hits, Kelly reflected on a play Griffin made a short on Ramon Laureano to end the third inning.
“The backhand play, I don't even know, it was earlier in the game and it looked like it was going to be bang-bang at first and he unleashed a cannon of a throw and then the double play, him and Gonzo turned in a big moment there was great,” Kelly said.
After flying out in the third inning, Griffin beat out an infield hit down the third base line and then scored from first base on a slowly hit double down the left field line by Oneil Cruz in the fifth.
“It fired me up,” Griffin said. “One, getting on base, trying to make something happen in the inning. Spencer starting it off, I get on base, Oneil comes through with a big hit, we go up 2-0 with Paul on the mound, that’s a good feeling. It was a great inning for us and glad we jumped on him pretty early.”
“I thought Konnor took great swings tonight, even the balls that weren't hits, I thought that he had really good passes at the ball,” Kelly said. “It's a testament to him. It's what Paul does. It's what all our guys do, continue to work, continue to grind and even after a tough game last night, showing up today and competed really well."
Skenes said there is a presence with Griffin that impresses him, which is quite a compliment from a player who casts the biggest shadow on the franchise. At 19, Skenes marvels at how Griffin does his job.
“Just the way he goes about his business,” Skenes said. “He’s a big leaguer, through and through.”
LISTEN to reaction from Paul Skenes & Konnor Griffin
LISTEN to reaction from Paul Skenes & Konnor Griffin
