Fans in a Pirates game poll said Konnor Griffin has been the bigger miss, with 57% of voters choosing him over Oneil Cruz. Griffin has already returned to action with the Altoona Curve after a right elbow strain, and that leaves Pittsburgh facing the same question around his bat and glove.
That vote landed after Griffin was sidelined with the injury and before he got back into game action earlier this week. In 51 games, he has hit.270/.327/.402 with 51 hits, four homers, 22 RBIs and 14 steals, the kind of line that explains why a rookie can move quickly from prospect label to lineup need.
Konnor Griffin Return
Griffin’s return to the Altoona Curve gives the Pirates a first sign that his rehab has moved past the injured-list stage. The club has handled his recovery cautiously, and the poll shows fans noticed the gap even while Oneil Cruz was also out.
The numbers around Griffin are enough to make that response understandable. Before the injury, he had 14 steals for Pittsburgh, and the voting split suggests supporters still view him as the more complete lineup loss because he can affect games in more than one way.
Jared Triolo At Shortstop
Jared Triolo has taken a majority of the starts at shortstop since Griffin was moved to the injured list. Through 48 games, Triolo has a.228 batting average and a.269 slugging percentage, with five stolen bases.
That production has kept the position covered, but it has not changed the fan view. The poll still gave Griffin 57% of the vote, which means the replacement role at shortstop has not erased the sense that Pittsburgh has been missing a more dangerous bat and a more dynamic runner.
Oneil Cruz And The Poll
Oneil Cruz went on the injured list with left hand fractures, and at that point he had a.264 batting average and a.472 slugging percentage, along with 14 homers and 21 steals. Fans still chose Griffin over him, which puts the poll on the record as a split verdict between two missed pieces.
For the Pirates, the practical takeaway is simple: Griffin’s bat is back in play with the Altoona Curve, but Pittsburgh does not yet have a return date to work with. Fans who have watched the shortstop carousel now have one clear data point from the vote — the rookie has become the absence they feel most sharply.
