The Pittsburgh Pirates will be without Konnor Griffin at shortstop, as the 20-year-old rookie remains day to day after being diagnosed with a low-grade muscle strain to one of the flexors in his right forearm.
That doesn’t mean Griffin won’t play.
Griffin is batting sixth in the starting lineup at designated hitter for the first time in his major league career for Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins.
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Griffin was examined by team doctors and “some other leading experts in this field and this industry” and is available as a DH and pinch runner.
“He is cleared to hit. He is cleared to DH. He has not been cleared to throw,” Tomczyk said. “We’re going to reassess throwing status in the coming days, then come up with a plan and progression from there.”
Griffin, who entered the season as baseball’s top prospect, signed a nine-year, $140 million contract extension on April 8. The 6-foot-3, 222-pounder, a 2024 first-round draft pick, is batting .261/.322/.394 with eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, 21 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 49 games this season.
Griffin has started 47 games at shortstop since making his MLB debut in the April 4 home opener. Pirates manager Don Kelly said Griffin expressed concerns about his right elbow after the 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, then did not play Thursday.
“Where he felt it the most was the last game that he played on the running throw, something that I think had been bothering him a little bit up to that point,” Kelly said. “That’s the way I understand it. There was a relay throw the play before and then it really bothered him on that running play the other day.”
Tomczyk said that the medical staff learned that Griffin’s injury is a “sub-acute” and that it didn’t occur on “one specific throw.”
“He expressed a couple nights ago after the game that the elbow just wasn’t recovering,” Tomczyk said. “That’s when the medical team took the next necessary steps to get him to the physicians and experts and continue to learn.”
The Pirates got good news that third baseman Nick Gonzales also will avoid the injured list after he was removed after the third inning of Thursday’s game with left knee discomfort. Gonzales was bothered by swelling after hitting a foul ball off his left knee the night before.
If Griffin’s requires a stint on the injured list, it could come at the same time first baseman/right fielder Ryan O’Hearn (right quadriceps) is ready to return from the 10-day IL. O’Hearn has taken batting practice and fielded grounders at first base, and ran the bases at PNC Park before Friday’s game. Tomczyk said initial responses were positive.
“He’s completely asymptomatic. He’s hitting. He’s throwing. He’s fielding. He’s doing everything that he needs to do,” Tomczyk said. “We’ll see how he recovers (Saturday).”
Right-handed reliever Chris Devenski, who is on the 15-day IL with an illness, had his rehabilitation transferred to Florida. Devenski is playing catch on flat ground and expected to start throwing bullpen sessions next week, which Tomczyk called “really encouraging.”
Catcher Joey Bart also received positive feedback after an examination on his infected left foot and was cleared to resume all weight room activities in shoes and play light catch.
“That’s awesome news for Joey,” Tomczyk said. “We’ll reassess to see how everything goes over the next couple of days. When the team gets to Houston, we’ll reassess and, hopefully, begin a running progression and hitting progression next week. From there, we can map out a more definitive return-to-play calendar for Joey. So that’s encouraging.”