Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin feels better after splint removal, with return timeframe holding at about three weeks

The Pittsburgh Pirates received a positive medical update on rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin, whose left ring finger injury has kept him sidelined on the 60-day injured list. In a team checkup, Griffin was cleared from needing a splint, a sign that the finger has progressed enough to move from protection toward more normal baseball movement and preparation.

According to the Pirates’ report, Griffin no longer wears the splint on his left ring finger after an evaluation that included the team’s hand specialist and an orthopedic surgeon. The organization said Griffin will continue that next phase of the process as he heads to Bradenton, Florida, when the Pirates begin their road trip on Wednesday.

For a young player, the timeline is often as important as the diagnosis. The Pirates characterized the current stage as part of a return window that “could” land within roughly three weeks. That wording matters because it frames the remaining work as dependent on how Griffin’s finger responds to the ramp-up, including activity that typically comes after splint protection is removed.

Griffin, 20, has been treated as a key emerging piece for Pittsburgh’s infield group. Shortstop is a demanding position, requiring quick reactions, frequent forceful throws, and constant use of both hands at high intensity. A left-hand finger injury can influence comfort on throws, ball security on exchanges, and the grip used for turning double-play pivots, so even “progressing” injuries can require careful monitoring as a player adds baseball stress back to the body.

The Pirates’ decision to share that Griffin is no longer using a splint suggests the injury has moved beyond the most restrictive stage. While the team did not provide additional medical details, the reported involvement of a hand specialist and orthopedic surgeon indicates the Pirates used both expertise and structured follow-up to assess healing and function.

The next practical step comes in Bradenton, a location where many teams use controlled work environments for rehabilitation, skill-focused practice, and gradual increases in workload. If Griffin’s finger continues to cooperate, the Pirates can begin planning around when he could be inserted back into game action. If the finger is slower to respond, the team’s “within 3 weeks” framing provides room for delays without forcing a rushed return.

Beyond Griffin himself, the update affects how the Pirates think about infield depth and long-term sequencing for the rest of the season. A return window measured in weeks is significant for roster planning, since it can shape who receives additional starts, how quickly the team can stabilize its daily lineup, and whether Pittsburgh can count on its rookie shortstop as a longer-term answer rather than a temporary placeholder.

For now, the key watch items are simple: whether Griffin’s finger tolerates increasing baseball activity in the coming days, and whether the Pirates maintain the approximately three-week pathway from this point. The organization’s medical update also raises the larger question of readiness, since “no splint” is a meaningful milestone but still leaves room for final tests of grip strength, throwing mechanics, and day-to-day durability before activation.