Konnor Griffin Check-In: Pirates Star Gaining Confidence in Rehab
Konnor Griffin Check-In: Pirates Star Gaining Confidence in Rehab
The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie is aching to get back on the field.Dominic Campbell|
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Pittsburgh PiratesPITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the best rookies in baseball in shortstop Konnor Griffin, but his recent injury has kept him off the field.
Griffin has spent all of June on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm flexor strain, which is preventing him from playing shortstop, particularly with throwing.
Griffin is currently down in Bradenton, Fla., where he moved his injury rehab with the Pirates on the road this week and fully focusing on working to get back to full fitness.
He spoke about his injury recovery on 93.7 The Fan, where he's making "really good progress" and "working back to making strong throws," plus is "looking to being back sooner rather than later."
Overlook at Griffin's Florida Rehab
It's a day-to-day injury for Griffin, that is based on how he feels on his throwing program, which he began on June 9, starting out to 90 feet and working with plyometrics and weighted balls.
Griffin threw back-to-back days, June 16-17, but not on June 18, and has progressed up to 150 feet, showing early progress in his first few days down in Pirate City.
"...I'm kind of in a spot where I'm having to put some on it and really put the arm to the test," Griffin said. "I'd like to say we're getting close to where we want to be."
He is with his wife, Dendy Griffin, and taking some time to relax down by the beach and get his mind off of baseball for just a little bit.
It's an important week away from the Pirates for Griffin, who is still waiting to get back on the field, but knows that this is the best chance for him to return fully healthy sooner.
Griffin Ready to Contribute for Pirates Once Again
The Pirates called up Griffin on April 3 and made him their starting shortstop, which he has only gotten better at in all facets of his game.
He slashed .270/.327/.402 for an OPS of .729 in 51 games before his injury, with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 14 stolen bases on 15 attempts.
Griffin can do everything aside from throwing, as he was the designated hitter for the Pirates in the first two games in their series vs. the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park, May 29-30, before going on the injured list.
He is getting back to full fitness down in Florida, but wouldn't have minded staying with the team and showing off his bat and speed before returning at shortstop.
"...If they wanted me to DH, I'd do it in a heartbeat," Griffin said. "I miss being with the guys and trying to help contribute to winning games, so whatever they would need."
Griffin isn't just confident in coming back from his injury, but that he an produce at an elite level, even as a rookie.
He's made improvements every time he's taken the field and that while he's pleased with how things have gone so far, he knows that he can become the shortstop the Pirates envision and one of the better players in the sport over the coming yers.
"....I just know I can do more to help the team win," Griffin said. "I'm a .900 OPS guy, that's what I did last year. That's something I can improve on. My walks, staying gap to gap, doubles and homers, just using the power, the skills that I've showed throughout the minor leagues I can show at the Big League level. It just takes a full year to do that so I'm ready to get back and keep rolling."
Published Jun 18, 2026
DOMINIC CAMPBELLDominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
