Konnor Griffin injury update: Former LSU commit, Pirates top prospect leaves All-Star Futures Game following nasty hit-by-pitch

The MLB Futures Game has not gone to plan for one of baseball’s most exciting prospects. Konnor Griffin of the Pittsburgh Pirates was going to be able to show his special ability against other top guys in Atlanta. Instead, he is leaving the game due to an injury.

In the batter’s box against Astros farmhand Alimber Santa, a fastball off the hand was enough to get pulled. Certainly a scary moment for Griffin after finding an immense amount of success in the Pirates’ Minor League system this season.

“Konnor Griffin, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, was just hit on the hand by an Alimber Santa 97 mph fastball,” Baseball America’s JJ Cooper said via X. “A trainer checked on him halfway between home and first base and Griffin has [been] pulled from the game.”

MLB Pipeline’s rankings are a little different than Baseball America’s. They have Griffin as the No. 13 overall prospect in baseball at the moment. Only pitcher Bubba Chandler is ranked higher inside the Pirates organization as folks in Pittsburgh wait patiently for both to get their respective call-ups.

Griffin will likely have to wait a few more years, though. He was the ninth pick of the Pirates last year after being committed to play his college baseball at LSU. A high school reclassification even took place, allowing Griffin to start his professional career a little bit earlier.

Pittsburgh has Griffin playing for A+ Greensboro after previously being at A Bradenton. Between the two levels, Griffin holds a batting average of .327 and a .921 OPS. Thirteen home runs have been hit while knocking in 53 RBIs. If there is any pause, the strikeout numbers are quite high (76 Ks) compared to 29 walks.

Now, there might be an injury to deal with moving forward. Not what anybody wants out of the Futures Game, usually a place for celebration. But at the end of the day, a baseball game is still being played. Everybody is at risk of sustaining something.

Greensboro has games on Saturday and Sunday, something Griffin was not expected to play in either way. Then, like the rest of baseball, a break will come next week. Griffin’s next appearance with the ball club would likely be Friday, July 18, against Winston-Salem, assuming nothing serious comes out of the HBP. Hopefully, the move is completely cautionary, and Griffin is able to continue the hot start to his career.