Jared Jones, the promising pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is making strides in his recovery journey. After missing the entire 2025 season due to UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow, Jones is now nine months post-op and showing great progress.
According to Pirates' senior director of sports medicine, Todd Tomczyk, Jones is hitting all the rehab milestones and recovering well. This positive update comes after Jones threw live batting practice on Friday, a crucial step in his return to the mound. He's expected to be ready for game action once he comes off the 60-day injured list in late May.
Jones, a second-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, made his big-league debut in March 2024. In that season, he posted a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA and an impressive 1.19 WHIP over 121 2/3 innings across 22 starts. His 132 strikeouts were third-best on the team, showcasing his potential as a key player in the Pirates' rotation.
As the Pirates gear up for the upcoming season, their rotation looks solid with ace Paul Skenes leading the charge, followed by Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, and Braxton Ashcraft. With Jones on track to rejoin the team, the Pirates' pitching staff is shaping up to be a formidable force.