As if things couldn’t become even more frustrating for the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates, rookie sensation shortstop Konnor Griffin recently suffered a torn tendon in his ring finger. It’s an obvious blow to the Pirates’ lineup. Since Griffin turned 20 on April 24, the middle infielder has a .840 OPS and 130 wRC+. Plus, he has provided strong defense at shortstop, and the possible cause for the injury is from a diving catch he made during the series against the Washington Nationals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9qNRXOzybs
Griffin already missed nearly a month of playing time from late May through late June, and once again looks like he is potentially staring down another month-long absence. Losing him for yet another non-insignificant period of time means the Pirates are going to have to keep managing around another regular out of the lineup, so what is the best way they can do that?
While some fans may not love the idea of giving Jared Triolo more playing time, he has performed better as of recently. Over his last 20 games, he is batting .258/.343/.403 with a .333 wOBA and 107 wRC+. His peripherals are about league average. Triolo has a 9% walk rate, 22.9% K%, and a .145 isolated slugging percentage in 70 plate appearances. His 88.6 MPH exit velocity also falls in line with the league average mark.
Nick Gonzales will also continue to line up on the left side of the infield. The former first-round pick looks like he is in the midst of a breakout campaign, as he is batting .312/.369/.397 with a .342 wOBA and 113 wRC+ in 347 plate appearances. He isn’t hitting for much power, with a .085 ISO and just four home runs. Plus, he has only a 6.9% walk rate. However, his 17.9% K% is a career-low mark. His .327 xwOBA and .287 xBA suggest there isn’t a ton of good luck in play.
However, the defensive alignment should change. Triolo has mostly taken reps at shortstop this year. He has not graded out as a good defender at the position. In 747 career innings at the position, he has -4 defensive runs saved and -3 outs above average. Meanwhile, Gonzales has lined up at third base for a good portion of the 2026 season, where he has -8 DRS and -5 OAA.
Switching where Triolo and Gonzales play may yield better results in the field. Third base is Triolo’s primary position, and it shows in the defensive metrics. He has +14 DRS and +11 OAA in 1191.2 innings throughout his career at the hot corner. Meanwhile, Gonzales was drafted as a shortstop, and primarily played second base throughout the minor leagues. Like Triolo, the defensive metrics make him look a lot more comfortable at his other position, where he has +1 DRS and +2 OAA over 262 innings at short.
It is also worth noting that moving Gonzales to shortstop and Triolo to third base would be putting them at the positions they have more experience at throughout their entire pro careers. Not only has Triolo primarily played third base in MLB, but has over 2300 innings there in the minor leagues. Gonzales started over 50 games throughout the minor leagues as a shortstop, with over 750 frames at the position. This is the first season Gonzales has started more than 15 games at the hot corner. Plus, Triolo was drafted as a 3B, and Gonzales was drafted as a SS.
Missing Griffin for any period of time hurts the Pirates dramatically. He is a dynamic player who makes a significant impact in everything he does. However, they can manage with the players they currently have. Triolo and Gonzales can handle the load until Griffin is back. The only thing the Pirates need to switch up is where the two take the field.
