ST. LOUIS - - One of the game’s best young stars is nearing a return. Konnor Griffin will begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Altoona as he works back from a left ring finger sagittal band injury.
Griffin is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list on Sept. 4.
Since his injury on July 5, Pittsburgh’s shortstops, Jared Triolo and trade acquisition Jacob Gonzalez, have combined to bat .226 with a .597 OPS and four home runs. In the eight games between injured-list stints, Griffin batted .306 with six stolen bases and a 115 wRC+.
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 on Aug. 16. Griffin went down to Florida on Aug. 19.
Griffin tore his left ring finger sagittal band (the ligament that keeps the extensor tendon in place in the middle of the knuckle) 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.