Pirates Manager Takes Hard Stance On Konnor Griffin Demotion Rumors

TL;DR

Pittsburgh Pirates manager firmly addresses rumors regarding Konnor Griffin's potential demotion. Griffin is struggling in his rookie season, batting .218 with no home runs through 16 games.

Key points

Konnor Griffin is batting .218 in his first 16 MLB games
He has no home runs and 18 strikeouts
Pirates manager addresses demotion rumors directly

Pittsburgh PiratesKonnor Griffin

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin

Pirates Manager Takes Hard Stance On Konnor Griffin Demotion Rumors originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Konnor Griffin's highly anticipated MLB career hasn't gotten off to a great start at the plate.

Through his first 16 games, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie is batting just .218/.290/.291 with no home runs, 18 strikeouts and 12 hits. With 0.0 WAR, he's been the definition of replacement level.

Accordingly, some are wondering if the Pirates rushed the 19-year-old shortstop to the Major Leagues too quickly, especially given his lack of minor league experience. Is there a chance that Griffin could be benched or sent down soon if his disappointing start continues, similar to Hunter Barco?

Don Kelly doesn't think so.

“I don’t even know at what point that would enter the discussion,” Kelly told Ken Rosenthal last Wednesday. “That’s not even in the realm of possibility right now. He’s going to be up here.”

Q&A

What are Konnor Griffin's current batting statistics?

Konnor Griffin is batting .218 with a .290 on-base percentage and .291 slugging percentage, having no home runs and 18 strikeouts in 16 games.

What did the Pirates manager say about Konnor Griffin's demotion rumors?

The Pirates manager took a hard stance against the rumors of Konnor Griffin's demotion, emphasizing his support for the player.

How has Konnor Griffin performed in his rookie MLB season?

In his rookie season, Konnor Griffin has struggled significantly, achieving a 0.0 WAR and being considered replacement level.