Pirates Explain Konnor Griffin Off Days Decision

He also thinks it benefits Griffin to relax and continue making those adjustments at the major league level, adapt to the physicality and learn more about the game from a different point of view, which they would do for any rookie.

“When he does get a day. Basically there’s two things going on. One, is that he’s 19," Cherington said. "The major league game is really hard and we knew that he was going to be learning from it and making adjustments and in real time here, also in a position to try to help us win games.

“Every once in a while, we see benefit in a young player having a day where they can just take a bit of a breath, watch the game, kind of process it in a different way, learn from that experience.

“He might still, on those days, he’s still ready to play. He might still come in for defense or do something on those days where it’s not like a full, just absolute day off. It’s just he’s not starting the game. It gives him a chance to take the breath.

“The other reason, as we think about just the daily routine of players over the course of a week. What’s happened in the minor leagues in the last few years is that the schedule’s really challenged in ways that really make sense from a development perspective.

“So, if you’re in Triple-A, or any affiliate, basically the schedule is, you’re in one place for six days, six games at a time. Then you travel and you have an off day every Monday and then you repeat that cycle.

“So the physical recovery cycle in the minor leagues is actually quite a bit easier than it used to be. You’re basically in one place every week, you have a guaranteed off day and there’s one travel day.

“That’s actually quite a bit different than a major league schedule, where you’re traveling multiple times a week and you can be in stretches like we’re in right now where you’re going more than a week without a day off. It is a different physical toll, but just that schedule.

“So as we see guys coming into the league for the first time, coming up to the major leagues for the first time, we try to build that in. Just build in a break every once in a while to help them orient and transition to a more difficult travel schedule.”

Griffin Improving with the Pirates

It's only been a little more than two weeks since Griffin made his debut, but he's gotten better over that short period.

Griffin is slashing just .218/.290/.291 for an OPS of .581, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but is currently on a four-game hitting streak, where he has five hits in 18 at-bats, a triple, three RBI and three stolen bases.

He's performed well at shortstop overall, aside from a mistake or two, showing that his 2025 MiLB Gold Glove Award he won wasn't a fluke and that is he is the best option for the Pirates at the position.

Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million extension with the Pirates back on April 8 and if he can develop his bat this season, he could end up winning National League Rookie of the Year and help his team end their decade-long playoff drought.