![\"Konnor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Griffin-6-1120x630.jpg\")
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PITTSBURGH \u2014 Konnor Griffin hasn\u2019t been able to man his usual position at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates the last few days.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old rookie is dealing with a low-grade muscle strain to one of the flexors in his forearm, which has prevented him from playing the field. He hasn\u2019t been cleared to throw but is still allowed to hit.<\/p>\n
Griffin was out of the lineup on Thursday night against the Chicago Cubs. He\u2019s served as designated hitter for each of the first two games of Pittsburgh\u2019s series with the Minnesota Twins on Friday and Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n The results have been good. Combined between the two games at DH, Griffin is 4 for 9 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been good,\u201d Griffin said of his temporary role. \u201cReally focusing on what I\u2019m doing at the plate and getting to get off my feet a little bit. Watch the game and just focus on hitting.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s been an adjustment for Griffin, who totaled 49 games at short to begin his career with the Pirates prior to being the DH each of the last two games.<\/p>\n Instead of heading out to the field when it\u2019s the opposing team\u2019s turn to bat, Griffin has to stay in the dugout.<\/p>\n \u201cJust watching reports on guys that might come in and checking out different [at-bats] that I have,\u201d he said on what he\u2019s doing instead of going out for defense. \u201cTrying to move around a little bit to stay as warm as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a frustrating injury for any player, especially a rookie performing the way he has for the better part of the last month. But Griffin is staying optimistic with the perspective that some extra down time will help him long-term in a 162-game season.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to take it as a positive thing to give me some rest before getting ready to continue to finish out the year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While Griffin is content in his DH role for now, considering he\u2019s still able to play, he\u2019s ready to put his glove back on and get take the field again at short.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good that it should be sooner than later,\u201d he told Pittsburgh Baseball Now. <\/p>\n Griffin says the expectation is that he will be checked out by the Pirates medical staff on Sunday to see if he can resume throwing and go out for defense again. If all goes well, it won\u2019t be very long before No. 6 takes his place at shortstop again.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019m playing tomorrow, but I\u2019ll try and be back out there on Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Konnor Griffin<\/a> Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n