PITTSBURGH – Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin is progressing in his return from the 60-day injured list. The 20-year-old shortstop is no longer wearing a splint on his left ring finger after a checkup with the team’s hand specialist and orthopedic surgeon, and he’ll head to Bradenton, Fla., when the Pirates go on the road Wednesday.
Pittsburgh senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said the team is “optimistic” Griffin will be ready to return from the IL when eligible on Sept. 4.
Griffin tore his left ring finger sagittal band in a game against the Nationals on July 5 while diving up the middle for a ground ball. He was diagnosed with the injury and placed on the IL on July 7, then was transferred to the 60-day IL four days later.
“Not surprisingly, Konnor's a little bit ahead of schedule,” Tomczyk said. “He has been cleared to transition out of the splints that you've seen him in. You will still see his hand taped, and that's part of this transition phase. Over the next 48-72 hours, you'll see him putting his hand in the glove. You'll see him gripping the bat fully.”
“You got to ease back into it,” Griffin said on Tuesday. “I haven't swung in six weeks, so just going to start out with light swings and then get into it. But other than that, it's just get back in as quick as I can.”
Griffin sported a splint on the finger for six weeks, not able to catch with a glove but going through dry reps. He’s also thrown, with others catching for him. Offensively, Griffin has attempted to keep his timing by standing in against the Trajekt machine and taking top hand swings.
Griffin missed most of June with a right elbow strain. After working his way back, he played just eight games before being sidelined once again. In his time back, Griffin found his stride at the plate and seemed to be breaking out with 11 hits in a span of 36 at-bats (.306). As for a timeline to return, Griffin aims to be back as quickly as possible.
“I know I can get activated on Sept. 4, so I kind of have that in mind,” Griffin said. “It's not a for-sure date. It's just kind of my goal to be back then. But we'll just see how it feels going through some hitting and defense work.”