Konnor Griffin is increasingly close to returning to big league action.
The Pirates star shortstop has missed nearly the past two months with a left ring finger issue suffered against the Washington Nationals on July 5.
Griffin injured the sagittal band and was forced to wear a splint for weeks.
He returned to the diamond on Sunday, suiting up for the Double-A Altoona Curve to begin a rehab assignment.
Griffin played seven innings and ended the day 1-3 with two strikeouts. His rehab was transferred to
Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
The 20 year old has only played in 59 games due to two separate long-term injuries that derailed his season.
In 247 plate appearances, Griffin is slashing .276/.332/.404 with a .736 slugging percentage.
He was hitting over .300 in the right-game sample size after his right forearm strain that kept him out almost all of June.
Griffin has hit 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, drove in 25, and struck out 65 times during his first season in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates signed Griffin to a nine-year extension worth $140 million in April to keep the team cornerstone in Pittsburgh as their new face of the franchise.
Griffin swiped 20 steals and was on pace to exceed 40 stolen bases if he didn’t get hurt.
He is eligible to come off the injured list on September 4 and will likely be back for the Los Angeles Angels series beginning on Friday.
The Pirates are 67-71 and welcome the San Francisco Giants to town on Tuesday for the first of three.
Only a month remains to determine if the team can complete an all-time comeback for the postseason.
