Multiple sources, including MLB.com’s Jason Foster, report that Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin has been diagnosed with a torn tendon in his left ring finger and will miss at least the next month.
Foster cites colleague Mark Feinstand, who did not name his source. Feinstand says Griffin could choose to play through the injury, but that a trip to the injured list is more likely. The Pirates have not made any announcements regarding the injury.
While Foster says it’s “unclear” when the injury occurred, Griffin came up shaking the hand after making a diving stop on a grounder in the third inning of Sunday’s win in Washington, and he had the finger examined after making a diving catch in the outfield in the fourth. He stayed in the game and made yet another diving catch in shallow left field in the fifth, and later hit a two-run single in the eighth inning, giving the Pirates the lead for good in an 11-5 win.
With the Pirates facing a difficult July schedule, losing Griffin for the second time this season would be a severe blow to their playoff chances and could force a more cautious approach to their trade strategy. The 20-year-old rookie is batting .276 with five home runs and 25 RBIs this season, and after missing twenty-two games with a right forearm strain, he’s hitting .306 with an OPS of .776 since his return on June 26th.
The Pirates are already playing without outfielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz. Cruz has missed 28 games since last playing June 6th, when he suffered two non-displaced fractures in his left hand against the Braves in Atlanta. Horwitz has missed 13 games since suffering a hamstring strain on June 24th against Seattle.
The Pirates open a six-game homestand against two first place teams tonight when they play Atlanta at PNC Park in the first of three, with Milwaukee visiting for three games this weekend.
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