Injuries are the only thing slowing Konnor Griffin’s promising rookie year down.
Just two weeks after returning from a right forearm flexor strain, ESPN’s Jeff Passan announced on X that the Pirates rookie has a torn tendon in his left ring finger.
While Passan said Griffin could play through it, he said rehab is the most likely option, which would keep him out a month until at least early August.
The 20-year-old suffered the injury making a diving outfield catch in the Pirates’ 11-5 win over the Nationals on July 5. Griffin ran into the outfield and fought off sun to make the grab, but landed on his left hand.
Though a Pirates trainer looked over Griffin in the fifth inning, he stayed in for the rest of the game.
“Yeah, kind of a tough landing and I was shaken up a little bit, but all good,” Griffin told reporters after the game.
Griffin missed 22 games from May 31-June 25 with the aforementioned forearm strain.
In 39 at-bats since returning, Griffin has 11 hits, five runs scored, a home run and six stolen bases on six attempts.
The Pirates were also managing Griffin’s return closely, giving him two days off over the last 10 games and having him be the designated hitter for a game.
After making his debut on April 3, Griffin is batting .276 overall as a rookie with five homers and 25 RBI. He also has a .736 OPS.
Griffin isn’t the only Pirate dealing with an injury currently.
Oneil Cruz is out with left hand fractures while Spencer Horwitz is sidelined with a hamstring strain.
The Pirates, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2015, are 46-45 and fourth in the NL Central, 11 games behind the first-place Brewers.
The team also sits three games back of the final NL wildcard spot and starts a series Tuesday with the Braves.
