PITTSBURGH -- Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin didn’t start in Thursday’s 7-2 loss to the Cubs at PNC Park due to right forearm soreness. Griffin was available off the bench in the finale as a pinch-runner but did not enter the game.
Pirates manager Don Kelly said the injury happened while Griffin was throwing. He is considered day to day.
“Just popped up, and hopefully [it’s] nothing serious that we can reevaluate day to day,” Kelly said, “and see when we can get him back in there.”
Pittsburgh called up infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan from Triple-A Indianapolis and sent down Esmerlyn Valdez (No. 9 prospect) to add infield depth prior to the game. Jared Triolo started at shortstop in Griffin’s absence Thursday. The move of Valdez going down was likely to come soon, as outfielder Ryan O’Hearn nears a return from the injured list.
Both Callihan and Triolo made errors in the infield, but Callihan reached base twice after arriving in the clubhouse 10 minutes after first pitch and substituting in for Nick Gonzales, who exited with left knee discomfort.
Griffin was available to the media during the regular pregame clubhouse time and participated like normal during batting practice. The 20-year-old is batting .261 with a .716 OPS through 49 games in his highly anticipated rookie season. He became the youngest Pirates player since 1952 to bat leadoff on Tuesday.