Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin will miss at least a month after tearing a tendon in his left ring finger, according to ESPN. The injury occurred on July 5 during the Pirates' 11-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Griffin sustained the injury while making a diving catch in center field. Despite landing hard on his left hand, he remained in the game. A Pirates trainer assessed the injury in the fifth inning, but Griffin continued to play.
"Yeah, kind of a tough landing and I was shaken up a little bit, but all good," Griffin told reporters after the game.
The latest setback comes just two weeks after Griffin returned from a right forearm flexor strain that had sidelined him for 22 games from May 31 to June 25. While Griffin could potentially play through the torn tendon, rehabilitation is considered the most likely path, which would keep him out until early August.
Since his return on June 27, Griffin had shown flashes of his potential, recording 11 hits, five runs, a home run, and six stolen bases in six attempts over 39 at-bats. The Pirates had been managing his workload, including giving him days off and using him as a designated hitter.
Griffin, 20, made his MLB debut on April 3 and has batted .276 with five home runs and 25 RBIs in 39 games this season. He also holds a .736 OPS.
Griffin is not the only Pirates player currently on the injured list. Oneil Cruz is sidelined with a fractured left hand, and Spencer Horwitz is dealing with a hamstring strain.
The Pirates currently hold a 46-45 record, placing them fourth in the NL Central, 11 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. They are also three games back of the final NL wildcard spot. The team is set to begin a series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.