PITTSBURGH — Konnor Griffin made his long-awaited return to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night at PNC Park, marking his first appearance since July 5. Although he did not record a hit in the game, Griffin's impact was felt as he played a pivotal role in the Pirates' narrow 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Griffin was reinstated from the 60-day injured list after recovering from a left ring finger sagittal band injury sustained earlier this season. His return was highly anticipated, and he did not disappoint, contributing to the team's success in a tightly contested matchup.
“It was awesome being back out there, and such a cool place to play,” Griffin said after the game. “And this team is just awesome, so it’s a great win for us, and it’s nice to be back out there.”
In the second inning, with one out and standing on first base, Griffin showcased his remarkable speed. After teammate Jake Mangum hit a double to right field, Griffin took off, racing around the bases to score the game-winning run. His enthusiasm was palpable, matched only by the excitement of the 22,363 fans in attendance.
“I was just laying my body on the line, trying to score a run,” Griffin explained. “And when you’ve been out so long, it means a lot when good stuff happens. I normally don’t show too much emotion, but I guess it came out of me. I was pretty fired up.”
Griffin's determination was evident as he rounded third base, stumbling momentarily but quickly regaining his footing. Despite a strong throw from Angels outfielder Wade Meckler, Griffin executed a perfect slide to avoid the tag from catcher Moises Ballesteros, demonstrating his elite athleticism.
“I’m not sure if anyone else in the major leagues scores on that ball,” Pirates manager Don Kelly remarked. “That was unbelievable. Just the speed, and then how he got in, I’m still not sure. It looked like the ball beat him and he’s able to avoid it and get his hand back to just catch the back part of the plate. I mean, that’s just Konnor. The electricity that he brings overall and what he’s able to do and how he’s able to change a game.”
Although Griffin finished the game 0 for 3 with a strikeout, his defensive play and base running illustrated his importance to the Pirates. Wearing a sliding mitt on his left hand for extra protection, Griffin's aggressive style of play raised some eyebrows among teammates, including winning pitcher Jared Jones.
“I was scared,” Jones joked. “I saw him get fired up and I was like, ‘All right, he’s cool.’ That guy plays the game really hard. He’s fun to watch on a day-to-day basis.”
Now that he has returned, Griffin is focused on contributing to the Pirates' playoff push. He expressed confidence in his health, stating, “I’m not out there to play scared right now. It’s the most important time of the year. I got activated because I’m 100% healthy, so I’m gonna lay it all on the line.”
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