PITTSBURGH -- The wait is nearing an end. Konnor Griffin is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, and he’s prepared to play his first Major League game since suffering a torn sagittal band in his left ring finger against the Nationals on July 5 while diving up the middle for a ground ball.
“I feel good,” Griffin told reporters Thursday morning. “I think all the rehab stuff went well. So if they're ready to activate me, I'll be ready to go.”
Griffin will return to a Pirates team in need of a strong September to snap a 10-year postseason drought, the longest in the National League. Friday is his first day eligible back.
The 20-year-old was diagnosed with the injury and placed on the IL on July 7 (retroactive to July 6), then was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 11. Griffin ramped up his rehab in recent weeks by facing the Trajekt machine and performing one-hand swings with a splint still on the finger. He no longer needed the splint after consultation with doctors on Aug. 16, about six weeks after the injury.
When Griffin took the splint off, he had higher grip strength numbers than expected. Griffin said it’s been good to see how quickly his body has recovered from injury.
Griffin headed for Florida on Aug. 19 around when the team embarked on a nine-game road trip, and worked his way up to enter game action with Double-A Altoona on Sunday. He went 1-for-3 and returned to Pittsburgh for evaluation before joining Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday in Toledo.
With Triple-A, Griffin played two games and returned to Pittsburgh on Thursday for reevaluation before his eventual activation. It was Griffin’s second IL stint.
After missing most of June with a right forearm strain, Griffin returned for eight games where he batted .306 with six stolen bases. Now, Griffin has a chance to finish out his rookie season with similar success.
“It’s been driving me nuts just watching games on my phone and stuff,” Griffin said. “So it will be fun to finally be back in there competing.”