The No. 2 baseball player in the nation visited the MS Coast. And left with a rare loss.

It’s not often one of the top high school baseball players in America steps into your backyard.

It’s even rarer to send him and his loaded lineup home and packed with a shutout. The Ocean Springs Greyhounds did just that Monday, saddling state power Jackson Prep and potential soon-to-be first round draft pick Konnor Griffin with a 3-0 loss as part of the Battle at the Beach showcase around the Coast.

Ocean Springs junior Jack Jordan pitched seven scoreless innings against a Patriots team that has won six consecutive state titles.

“Jack was really, really good, first of all,” Greyhound coach Ryne Long said after the game. “He went out there and battled and competed. He’s going to compete every time he’s out there. It was a big win for us as far as knowing where we stand and knowing what we’re capable of if we play a solid game. “

Jordan recorded nine strikeouts around three free passes — two to Griffin — while his offense manufactured all three of the game’s runs in the fifth inning with the first two coming via throwing error by Jackson Prep catcher Thomas Cross.

In the top half of that same inning, Griffin’s ability to impact the game was showcased when the Greyhounds intentionally walked him to load the bases with two outs in a tie game.

The decision would pay off. Jordan got the next batter — top class of 2026 prospect Kevin Roberts — to strike out swinging.

Griffin saw the plate three times and reached safely on each trip. Twice by walk and one by legging out an infield single. Griffin also swiped a bag, running his single-season program record for stolen bases up to 45 in just 18 games.

“(Griffin) is everything you hear about,” Long said. “He’s the No. 1 player in the country. He checks all the boxes. He can really run, he can really hit, he fields it in the infield as good as you’ll see at the high school level.”

Competing with the best

Everyone in the building knew who was standing at shortstop for the Patriots. Griffin is the No. 2-ranked high school prospect in this summer’s Major League Baseball draft and is an LSU signee.

He has the potential to become one of the highest-drafted players to ever hail from Mississippi and would be offered a multi-million dollar signing bonus to match.

Griffin is a two-way talent who occasionally takes the mound when he’s not playing the two most premium positions on the field — shortstop and center field.

His status on the diamond does plenty to bring out the competitors in his opponents.

“He’s one of the best players in the country, it’s an honor to play on the same field as him,” Jordan said. “Just getting to compete with him is great. He’s a great kid, I wish him the best. He’s a great player.”

Competing with Griffin is one thing, stopping him is another. The senior is batting over .600 this season with an astronomical OPS of 2.034.

The havoc he creates extends from the batter’s box to the basepaths, as well. Griffin stolen six bases in one game against Tri County in February. He’s got at least one stolen base in every game he’s played in this season, according to MaxPreps.

Griffin narrowly stole second in the first inning of Monday’s game, beating out the throw from Greyhound catcher Chris Fox by inches.

“I was just thinking, ‘if he goes, throw him out,’” Fox said. “He’s really fast, really good. Almost got him there.”

Griffin, who reclassified after his freshman season and jumped to 11th grade, only recently became an aggressive threat to steal a bag.

But his hitting ability has always been advanced. He’s yet to strike out more than nine times in a season and his career-worst batting average was .472 as a freshman.

Griffin is also a leading scorer for the Patriots’ basketball team. For his teammates, playing alongside him has been a glimpse into what it takes to be a professional in baseball.

“It’s not only his talent on the field, it’s just his attitude,” Jackson Prep infielder Chris Maddux said. “He comes in with a winning attitude every day ready to work. He’s the valuable player on the field and off the field. He pushes all of us to be better.”

Griffin and the Patriots are 16-2 and battling to extend what is already an MAIS record for consecutive championships with a seventh in May.

Ocean Springs is 4-4 and will begin district play March 19 against Biloxi. The Greyhounds are hoping Monday’s win sparks a run as spring approaches.

“It gives us all the confidence in the world,” Jordan said. “This is the kind of win you want to build off of and take that next step.”