Pirates answer brutal Konnor Griffin injury with reunion nobody asked for

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ response to losing Konnor Griffin wasn't exactly the kind of move that will inspire confidence in a fan base already bracing for bad news.

With Griffin landing on the injured list because of a torn tendon in his left ring finger, Pittsburgh suddenly had a hole on the roster and a shortage of comfortable answers behind him. Jack Brannigan was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to help cover the infield, but that move also thinned out an already light position-player group in Indianapolis.

So the Pirates went back to a familiar name: Joshua Palacios.

As first reported by Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pirates are in agreement with Palacios on a minor league contract, and he will report to Triple-A Indianapolis. Palacios spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Pittsburgh’s organization and appeared in a career-high 91 games for the Pirates in 2023, giving fans a few memorable moments along the way.

But as a response to the Griffin injury, this is about as underwhelming as it gets.

Joshua Palacios' return to Pirates organization feels frustratingly familiar

Palacios is now 30 years old and will turn 31 later this month. Across parts of five Major League seasons with four different teams, he owns a .223/.287/.349 slash line with 15 home runs in 578 plate appearances. He spent roughly a quarter of his big league career with the Chicago White Sox during the first half of the 2025 season before finishing the year in Triple-A.

To be fair, Palacios has produced at that level. He owns a .293/.382/.475 slash line in nearly 800 career Triple-A plate appearances, with a solid strikeout and walk profile in the minors. He can also handle a little center field in a pinch, though he profiles mostly as a corner outfielder. That makes this reunion understandable from a depth perspective, but it doesn't make it exciting.

The Pirates released Dominic Fletcher over the weekend, Griffin’s injury forced Brannigan to the majors, and Indianapolis needed outfield help. Palacios checks that box. He knows the organization, he has Major League experience, and he can step into Triple-A without much adjustment.

Still, that's arguably the problem. This feels less like the Pirates aggressively responding to a major injury and more like them patching the leak with whatever familiar name was available.

Griffin’s injury has the potential to shift the tone of Pittsburgh’s season, and Palacios’ return doesn't come close to offsetting that.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow