PITTSBURGH -- Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin continues to progress through a low-grade right forearm strain. But after consulting with Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, Griffin will take more time than originally thought to recover.
The 20-year-old shortstop told reporters Tuesday that Dr. Meister suggested not throwing for a full two weeks. He worked out with plyometric balls on the recent road trip in Atlanta, and he could begin a throwing program if cleared by Pirates team physicians on June 10.
“All of the clinical exams with subsequent imaging that our team physicians did, that the second-opinion physicians did, all saw the ligament is stable, so that is a very important point,” said Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates' team director of sports medicine. “So there is no concern at this time of any surgery.”
Griffin said he initially had tightness around the elbow area, as if something was pulled, during Pittsburgh’s homestand against the Cubs and Twins. He served as the designated hitter for two games before making the move to the injured list.
Griffin is hitting .270 with a .729 OPS, four homers and 14 stolen bases through 51 games in his highly anticipated rookie season, rebounding from a slow start with a solid .306/.361/.459 slash line in May. In his absence, Jared Triolo has filled in at shortstop.
“I've never had any arm problems,” Griffin said. “I pitched in high school, and always felt good. Had a full year last year, felt great. I don't really know what caused it, but I'm just trying to fill it up and get back rolling.”