The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t press pause on Konnor Griffin’s return from a forearm muscle strain so much as they put it in slow motion on the recommendation of an orthopedic surgeon.
After Griffin received a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, the Pirates are proceeding with caution with the rookie shortstop. Instead of being activated from the 10-day injured list when he becomes eligible Wednesday, Griffin is scheduled to throw to 90 feet for the first time since last playing shortstop in a game May 27.
“Obviously, Konnor is hugely important to us, and we want him back on the field as soon as possible,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “And we want to make sure he’s in a really good spot to go back out there and do what he’s capable of doing. Obviously disappointing when that gets extended a little bit.”
Griffin, who pitched in high school, said he’s never had any previous arm problems. But Griffin said that Meister, who performed the InternalBrace procedure on Pirates right-hander Jared Jones, recommended not throwing for two weeks.
“Just trying to take a little break and really make sure I don’t hurt myself worse and just take our time with it,” Griffin said. “It’s still middle of the season, so we’ve got some time to rehab and get back and be ready to roll towards the last half.”
When Griffin felt tightness and soreness around his right elbow — “almost like I pulled something” — he told the team. Griffin served as designated hitter for two games against the Minnesota Twins on May 29-30 but was placed on the IL when Ryan O’Hearn was cleared to return.
“Just felt like it was better to let them know, let them be aware (instead of going) out there not even halfway through the year and trying to play through pain and not be at 100%,” Griffin said. “I want to be 100% when I’m out there. … I think we caught it at the right time, where I’m not going to have to miss the whole year, I can just miss just a couple weeks and try to be back out there as soon as possible.”
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Griffin’s injury is “resolving” and called his throwing plyometric balls Sunday “very encouraging.” Tomczyk said Griffin is scheduled to see a team physician this week with the hope that he will be cleared to begin a formal throwing program.
Tomczyk noted that Griffin doesn’t have any damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, ruling out the need for Tommy John surgery.
“All of the clinical exams with subsequent imaging that our team physicians did, that the second opinion physicians did, all the ligament is stable, so that is a very important point,” Tomczyk said. “So, there is no concerns at this time of any surgery.”
Griffin is dealing with the disappointment of not playing at the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves — the team the Jackson, Miss., native grew up rooting for — and missing a chance to face Shohei Ohtani and the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers by focusing on his recovery while taking ground balls, batting practice and running.
“I just try to stay locked into the games and not let myself get too far away from the game,” Griffin said. “It’s something (where) I could be back here in the next few weeks, and I don’t want to be too far away from the game. I want to make sure I’m focused and trying to keep my head in the best space I can.”