The Pittsburgh Pirates are setting up their rotation for the long haul, but one of their most electric young arms won’t be on the mound when the 2026 season gets underway.
On Wednesday night, the Pirates made their signing of veteran right-hander José Urquidy official. To clear room on the 40-man roster, the club placed Jared Jones on the 60-day injured list - a move that says more about timing than it does about setbacks.
Jones, just 24, is working his way back from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, which he underwent last May. It’s a newer alternative to Tommy John surgery that’s designed to speed up recovery from a UCL sprain. While it still requires a lengthy rehab, it’s often measured in months rather than the full year-plus that comes with traditional ligament reconstruction.
The earliest Jones can now return is late May, but there’s no indication that he’s behind schedule. In fact, there’s a little optimism in the air - and maybe even a touch of swagger. During a recent throwing session, Jones was reportedly heard saying, “It’s so back,” a short, confident phrase that could be interpreted as a sign he's feeling good about his progress.
And if Jones is indeed on track, that’s great news for Pittsburgh.
As a rookie in 2024, Jones flashed frontline potential. He punched out 132 hitters across 121 2/3 innings, pairing a 4.14 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP.
His fastball? That thing touched triple digits.
He brought the kind of power and presence that made it easy to envision him as a long-term piece at the top of the rotation.
Unfortunately, his momentum was cut short the following spring. After initially trying to rehab the elbow without surgery, the Pirates ultimately shut him down before he could make a single appearance in 2025. Now, with the internal brace in place and a return window in sight, Jones remains a key part of Pittsburgh’s future plans.
The Pirates have been quietly reshaping their rotation core, and a healthy Jones is a big part of that blueprint. Pair him with Paul Skenes - the flamethrowing phenom with ace-level upside - and Bubba Chandler - another high-ceiling arm on the rise - and you’ve got the makings of a formidable trio.
This offseason, Pittsburgh made some moves to balance the roster, trading away Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo to add depth on the offensive side. That opened some early-season rotation spots, and the club is banking on guys like Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft to carry the load early. Urquidy, with his postseason experience and steady presence, figures to slot in as well.
There’s also Hunter Barco in the mix - another young arm with promise - but make no mistake: Jared Jones is still a central figure in the Pirates’ pitching future. He may not be ready for Opening Day, but if the rehab continues trending in the right direction, he could be back on the bump by the summer - and Pittsburgh’s rotation will be that much more dangerous when he is.