Pirates Have Seriously Missed Konnor Griffin
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have dealt with a number of injuries this season, but the loss of shortstop Konnor Griffin has been the hardest for the time.
Griffin has missed the past six weeks with a left right sagittal band injury and can't return until Sept. 4 at the earliest, as he is on the 60-day injured list.
The Pirates rookie also missed almost four weeks with a right forearm flexor strain in June, before returning for three series and ending up back on the injured list on July 6.
Griffin was one of the best players for the Pirates in a huge season for the team and him not playing the past few months hasn't made it easy for them to achieve their goals.
What Pirates Miss From Griffin
Griffin made his debut on April 3 and soon signed his nine-year, $140 million contract extension on April 8, making him the face of the Pirates for the next decade.
He has had some struggles, but his recent improvements in May before his injury showed the 20-year old becoming the player the Pirates hope he'll turn into.
Griffin slashed .276/.332/.404 for an OPS of .736, with 62 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 25 RBI and 20 stolen bases on 21 attempts in 59 games.
He also showed off his defensive work at shortstop, with great glove work and a strong arm that make him a great player at the position and a future Gold Glove Award candidate.
The Pirates have had to rely on two different players at shortstop in utility man Jared Triolo and Jacob Gonzalez, who they traded for with the Chicago White Sox, parting with the 34th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Gonzalez hasn't hit the way the Pirates would've hoped, batting .213/.231/.413 for an OPS of .644 in 29 games, while Triolo is Gold Glove-calliber at third base, but just average defensively at shortstop, while batting just .238/.313/.308 for an OPS of .620.
The Pirates not having Griffin's improving bat, stellar defense and incredible speed has been a big loss for them in 2026.
Griffin Optimistic After Recent Injury Progress
While most youngsters could've fallen into despair with the injuries Griffin has had, the Pirates rookie has gotten right after his injury rehab and made great progress.
Griffin just got his left fingers out of the splint and into medical tape, as he begins gripping and putting his hand in the glove, while moving his rehab down to Bradenton, Fla.
He will work towards catching a baseball and starting his swing progression this weekend, as he moves away from the team and fully focuses on his injury rehab in Florida.
Griffin has stayed in shape during this time, sprinting, working on his fielding and trying to do anything he can to be ready when it's his time.
He is "ahead of schedule", per Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, and spoke to reporters this week about easing back into his swing and the defensive work he will start doing.
Griffin will also hope to help the Pirates in their quest to make the postseason, as they are 5.5 games back in the National League Wild Card race with just five weeks left in the season.
"It’s been tough," Griffin said on being out with injury. "I want to be out there with them in the fight, just trying to do my part. But they’re doing a great job, just gotta keep on winning some games."
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.