The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated rookie phenom shortstop Konnor Griffin from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday’s game against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Griffin is playing shortstop and batting first against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott. He has been sidelined with an injury to his throwing arm.
“It was a long few weeks having to sit out,” Griffin told reporters before Friday’s game. “Glad to be back and I can’t wait to go out there and play in a game.”
Griffin last played for the Pirates on May 30 before going on the IL with a right forearm strain. He played one rehab game at Double-A Altoona on Wednesday and went 2-for-2 with a homer, triple, walk, three RBIs and three runs.
Griffin, 20, worked out with the Pirates on Thursday and underwent further medical tests before being cleared to play. During his recovery, he had a two-week period where he was shut down from throwing.
“It’s exciting to have Konnor back,” Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly told reporters on Friday. “It’s great to see him around. Everything checked out well and (we’re) excited to have him back in the lineup.”
Kelly said the club plans to manage Griffin’s return to prevent a reinjury to his throwing arm. The near future includes appearances at designated hitter and maybe off-days before he’s fully back as the everyday shortstop.
“It will be a little bit of a process to see him out there every single day, and we’re gonna manage that as best as we can,” Kelly said.
Griffin is batting .270 with four homers, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 51 games. He has committed seven errors in 47 starts at shortstop.
“I feel I can produce more out here than what I have in the first 50 games,” Griffin said.
The No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 draft debuted in April while still 19 years old. Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million deal with the club just days after his promotion to the majors.
Griffin started slow against major league pitchers before picking up the pace.
“I think he’s been better than expected,” Kelly said of Griffin. “To get off to the start that he had, you know the hype is up there, and then for him to settle into the groove he had gotten into before getting hurt, I think he’s done a really, really good job and has done a really nice job defensively too.”
