Pirates place Konnor Griffin on 10-day injured list, activate Ryan O'Hearn

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 31, 2026

Published in Baseball

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The Pirates made two injury moves on Sunday, getting one key piece back but placing one on the injured list in his place.

The Pirates activated first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn from the 10-day injured list, but placed shortstop Konnor Griffin on the 10-day IL.

O’Hearn (right quad strain) was expected to miss four weeks, but returned to the Pirates in two. He’ll start as the Pirates’ designated hitter on Sunday in the series finale against the Minnesota Twins.

Griffin is dealing with a strain in a flexor in his right forearm. It’s a minor injury, the Pirates said. They’re hopeful it’ll be a minimal stay on the injured list.

“Nothing’s changed in the diagnosis,” general manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly radio show. “He has a minor flexor mass strain. And he’s made significant progress since this came up last week.”

Griffin started both Friday and Saturday at designated hitter, with Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk saying Friday that he was cleared to do everything except throw.

Griffin threw on Sunday, but Cherington said that, because he wasn’t going to return and play shortstop on Tuesday in the upcoming series against the Houston Astros, the Pirates elected to place him on the injured list.

“Let’s make sure this thing is really good to go and he can come back full 100 percent,” Cherington said. “We’re pretty confident and optimistic it’ll be a short term IL stint.”

Cherington expects Jared Triolo to handle the bulk of reps at shortstop while Griffin is sidelined. Nick Gonzales can also play shortstop, while Tyler Callihan may see additional opportunities at third.

Roster construction also played a role. The Pirates could have continued to start Griffin as the every day designated hitter, but preferred to have options, especially as O’Hearn returns from the injury.

Griffin, 20, is batting .270 with four homers, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in his first 51 games in the majors. He batted .306 with an .820 OPS in May.

O’Hearn, 32, is batting .289 with seven homers, 29 RBIs and an .827 OPS.