Pirates’ Ben Cherington says Konnor Griffin injury will keep him out longer than expected

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin will miss more time than the team initially projected after Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Monday the club will be “more conservative” with his return. Griffin has not been in the lineup for about a week, and Cherington’s comments suggest the Pirates are no longer penciling in a quick comeback window for the young infield centerpiece.

Griffin’s absence began when Pittsburgh placed him on the 10-day injured list on May 31 with a minor flexor strain in his right forearm. The move followed an earlier stretch where Griffin was dealing with right-forearm soreness and was considered day-to-day for a short period, including a game where he did not start but was available as a pinch-runner.

In the May 31 update, Cherington told reporters Pittsburgh would not set a specific return date yet, though the team said it remained optimistic Griffin would be back “before too long.” also reported it was possible Griffin could return before the Pirates’ next homestand that starts June 9, but the decision depended on how his forearm responded to baseball activities.

By June 8, the Pirates’ message had shifted from optimism about a fast turnaround to caution about the timeline itself. Yahoo Sports reported Cherington linked the longer timetable to the “specific location” of Griffin’s flexor mass strain, noting the club is allowing more time as it reevaluates when the injury will be ready for full baseball load.

With Griffin out, Pittsburgh has already leaned on a short-handed infield rotation at the position. reported that Jared Triolo handled shortstop duties, Nick Gonzales played third base, and the Pirates brought in extra depth by recalling Tyler Callihan for bullpen-like flexibility off the bench. Manager Don Kelly framed Griffin’s progress in May as a matter of continuing to get better, but also acknowledged the team’s need to wait for him to be ready to resume full-strength play.

The bigger concern for the Pirates is not only losing a starter, but losing a premium defensive role during a developmental window. Griffin entered the season as a highly anticipated rookie and, as of the May 31 reporting, had hit.270 with a.729 OPS, four home runs and 14 stolen bases through 51 games. The Pirates also made the long-term bet on him earlier this year by signing him to a nine-year contract extension. So the team’s current emphasis on a cautious return reflects how much value they place on getting the timeline right rather than simply returning him to the lineup.

What to watch next is whether the Pirates can reintroduce Griffin to action with limited setbacks and, specifically, whether his return lines up with the homestand that begins June 9 or extends beyond it. Because Cherington has indicated the organization is still working from recovery specifics rather than a firm calendar date, the most immediate question becomes how long Pittsburgh will rely on alternatives at shortstop before they can safely put Griffin back in the field and at-bats.