Pirates’ top prospect Konnor Griffin returns from elbow injury. Here’s what it means for Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Pirates got back their highest-ceiling prospect on Friday, reinstating Konnor Griffin from the injured list after a right elbow strain sidelined him for weeks. The corresponding move was sending infielder Jack Brannigan back to Double-A.

Griffin entered this season as MLB’s No. 1 overall prospect, which is a big deal for a franchise that hasn’t exactly been overflowing with top-end talent lately. He didn’t break camp with the big-league club out of spring training, but the Pirates called him up anyway once they felt he was ready. Through 51 games before the injury, the 20-year-old hit .270/.327/.402 with four home runs, nine doubles, and two triples. Those numbers aren’t flashy, but they’re solid for a kid who just turned 20 and skipped past the usual minor-league climb.

The kid has been working his way back for a while now. Multiple reports out of Pittsburgh said Griffin was putting in extra time on the rehab field, trying to get the zip back on his swing and the feel for the zone. The Pirates have been careful with him — not rushing him back just because the big-league team is middling this season. The elbow strain wasn’t considered a major structural issue, but you don’t gamble with a player this young who could be a cornerstone for the next half-decade.

Now he’s back on the active roster, and the Pirates are hoping he picks up where he left off. The lineup could definitely use the boost. Pittsburgh’s offense has been inconsistent, and Griffin’s blend of contact and occasional pop gives them a different look than most of the other young hitters on the roster. He’s not a power-only bat; he uses the whole field and runs well for a middle infielder.

Jack Brannigan heading back to Double-A isn’t a surprise. He’s a useful utility guy, but he’s not a future star. The Pirates need at-bats for Griffin, plain and simple.

As for the bigger picture: Griffin is still just 20 years old with fewer than 60 big-league games under his belt. Nobody should expect immediate superstardom. But if he stays healthy, he’s the kind of player who can make the Pirates’ rebuild feel like it’s actually heading somewhere. The team hasn’t made a postseason run in nearly a decade, and Griffin plus guys like Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz give fans at least a reason to keep showing up.

He’s in the lineup tonight.