Pirates’ Paul Skenes hilariously jokes with Konnor Griffin after 1st MLB home run

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping to find lots of wins during the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Pittsburgh has put together a lot of new pieces in the lineup to achieve that, including promoting young prospect Konnor Griffin. Griffin hit his first home run of his MLB career on Friday.

Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, who had the start on Friday, joked about Griffin’s strong performance. It also happened to be Griffin’s birthday.

“He couldn’t do it when he was a teenager, I guess. Wanted to wait until he turned 20… The league better be on notice, cause he’s coming,” Skenes said, per the Bucco Territory podcast.

Paul Skenes on Konnor Griffin's 1st career HR tonight:

"He couldn't do it when he was a teenager, I guess. Wanted to wait until he turned 20… The league better be on notice, cause he's coming." pic.twitter.com/6e3krL2z1b

— Platinum Key (@PlatinumKey13) April 25, 2026

Skenes then stopped to reflect a little more seriously about the significance of Griffin’s big day.

“That’s how it needs to be. Especially on your birthday. I mean, that’s a special moment. … I’m not a hitter. I can only imagine how cool that is, so glad he got that,” Skenes said, per MLB.com.

The Pirates are now 15-11 on the season, after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers Friday 6-0. It was a very special game for Griffin, who just turned 20. He finished the contest with a homer, as well as three RBIs and three total hits.

It was also a special night for Skenes. The Pirates ace, who won the National League Cy Young in 2025, pitched seven scoreless innings.

“I’m sure everybody had a blast watching that, the way Paul was pitching. Then for Konnor to break out like that, we can’t say 19 anymore. He’s 20,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “But the way he’s handled everything going through this, to see him stay in the moment and be able to drive the ball the other way like he’s capable of.”

Pittsburgh plays the Brewers again on Saturday. The Pirates are currently two games behind Cincinnati and Chicago in the NL Central.

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