Pirates Griffin Injury
Pirates Rookie Konnor Griffin Sidelined 8-10 Weeks with Torn Finger Tendon, Impacting Playoff Push
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Key Points
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The injury is a torn sagittal band in Griffin's left ring finger, a tendon-stabilizing structure, and he will wear a splint for about six weeks before resuming baseball activities with an 8-10 week absence anticipated.
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Griffin was placed on the 10-day injured list as the club announced the injury, underscoring that the timetable could extend beyond a standard IL stint.
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The injury was diagnosed after Griffin's first of two diving catches in Sunday's 11-5 win over the Washington Nationals, with the exam revealing the extent of the issue.
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Griffin had already missed most of June with a strained right forearm, marking a second significant setback in his breakout rookie season as Pittsburgh chased a postseason berth.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is out 8-10 weeks after tearing a tendon in his left ring finger, according to ESPN and TSN. The 20-year-old will wear a splint for about six weeks before resuming baseball activities, dealing a significant blow to a Pirates team sitting around .500 and chasing a postseason spot.
The injury happened during Sunday's 11-5 win over the Washington Nationals, when Griffin made the first of two diving catches. An exam revealed a torn sagittal band — a tendon-stabilizing structure in the finger. The Pirates placed him on the 10-day injured list as the full scope of the injury became clear, per Trib Live.
A Breakout Rookie Season Now Put on Hold
Griffin had become one of the Pirates' most important players this season. In 59 games, he hit .276/.332/.404 with five home runs, 25 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He batted leadoff and was central to Pittsburgh's offensive identity. His numbers were all the more impressive given his age and his major league debut coming just on April 3, as TSN noted.
This is Griffin's second major setback of the season. He already missed most of June with a strained right forearm. The back-to-back injuries have disrupted what had been a standout rookie campaign for one of baseball's youngest starting shortstops, per Trib Live.
Pirates Fill the Gap with Triolo and Brannigan
The Pirates will lean on Jared Triolo to fill in at shortstop. Pittsburgh also called up infielder Jack Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis, according to WFMJ. Brannigan becomes the sixth rookie to make his major league debut for Pittsburgh this season, adding to a young and developing roster.
The Pirates have been one of the more productive offenses in the league midseason. Sustaining that production without Griffin will be the key challenge. Pittsburgh will need contributions from its full roster depth over a stretch that could last into September's playoff push, per Trib Live.
Playoff Contention Hangs in the Balance
The Pirates entered this stretch at roughly 46-45 and in the NL postseason mix. Griffin's projected return lands squarely in the final weeks of the regular season — a critical window for any team fighting for a wild card spot. Pittsburgh is described as dealing with 'tough news' at the worst possible time, according to Trib Live.
Some early reports suggested Griffin could try to play through the injury, but an 8-10 week absence now appears certain, per Freedom 96.9. The Pirates have dealt with injuries to multiple key players this year, making roster depth more important than ever as the team tries to hold its ground in the standings.
Local Coverage Lagged Behind National Insiders
One notable side story: Pittsburgh's local outlets were slow to publish the Griffin injury news. ESPN's Jeff Passan broke the story first, but local Pittsburgh media had not widely reported it by the time national audiences already knew, as noted by Audacy. The gap between national insiders and local market coverage drew attention from listeners and fans online.
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