Jones did not factor into the decision Wednesday against Atlanta, logging eight strikeouts across six perfect innings.
While the Pirates failed to provide Jones with any run support in an eventual 3-0 defeat, the right-hander's dominant performance certainly offered a silver lining. Jones struck out eight of the 18 batters he faced, ultimately needing 77 pitches to get through six perfect innings. The 34-year-old Jones has now allowed just five earned runs across 17.2 innings in his last four starts as he continues to work his way back from UCL surgery that ended his 2025 campaign. Overall, his ERA sits at 4.37 with a 1.14 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB through his first eight starts (35 innings) this season.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Goes four innings vs. Phillies
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Jones did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Phillies, allowing a run on two hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
Jones threw 73 pitches as he continues to build up his workload after missing the majority of the 2025 campaign following UCL surgery. It was an encouraging outing overall for Jones, who had given up 12 runs (11 earned) across 15.2 innings in his previous four starts. The 24-year-old right-hander will carry a 5.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB into his next start, currently scheduled to come next week at home against Atlanta.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Exceeds 80 pitches in no-decision
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Jones did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-7 loss to the Reds, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Jones allowed runs in three separate frames and posted his highest pitch count of the season, throwing 52 of 81 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs. Although none of his six outings have exceeded five innings, the 24-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer four times as he continues to get stretched out. He'll carry a 5.76 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 25:9 K across 25 frames into a road matchup with the Phillies next week.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Next start uncertain
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Jones had additional imaging on his right elbow come back clean and played catch Tuesday, though manager Don Kelly indicated it's too early to know if the right-hander will be ready for his next turn through the rotation, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Jones departed his start Sunday against the Rockies after being struck in the right elbow by a comebacker, and he's now had multiple rounds of medical imaging return negative. Those results are encouraging, but the 24-year-old's availability will likely depend on how he responds to his between-starts bullpen session, which should be scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Initial images clean
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Jones (elbow) underwent imaging, which came back negative, Sunday in Colorado.
Jones was struck in the right elbow by a line drive and exited Sunday's contest against the Rockies following the conclusion of the third inning. The team had the 24-year-old undergo initial imaging in Colorado, and at the moment, it appears as if he has avoided a significant injury. Jones is expected to be reexamined by the medical staff in Pittsburgh on Monday, and he can be considered day-to-day for the time being.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Rebounds with five scoreless frames
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Jones (1-0) earned the win over Houston on Thursday, allowing four hits and issuing two walks while striking out four batters over five shutout innings.
Jones was roughed up a bit in his season debut May 29, allowing five runs over 4.1 innings against Minnesota. The right-hander fared much better Thursday, limiting the Astros to four hits (two doubles and two singles) while going just deep enough to qualify for the victory. Jones threw 74 pitches after tossing 77 in his previous outing, so he seems to be having his workload managed carefully as he eases back into action following an extended absence due to the UCL surgery he underwent in May of 2025. Jones will look to build upon this performance moving forward, though he's lined up for a tough matchup at home against the Dodgers his next time out.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Activated ahead of season debut
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The Pirates activated Jones (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Friday.
Jones is set to make his season debut for the Pirates on Friday just over one year after undergoing UCL surgery on his right elbow. The 24-year-old pitched well in five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. Jones threw 76 pitches in his last outing, so he should be capable of a workload of 85-90 pitches versus Minnesota.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Set for season debut Friday
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Pirates manager Don Kelly said Thursday that Jones (elbow) will return from the 60-day injured list and start Friday's game against the Twins at PNC Park, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Jones will be making his first appearance at the big-league level since he underwent UCL surgery last May. The right-hander looked sharp in five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He went 4.1 frames and threw 76 pitches in his most recent outing with Triple-A Indianapolis last weekend, so while Jones should be able to reach five innings Friday if he pitches efficiently, he shouldn't be expected to work much longer than that. Expect the Pirates to manage Jones' workload after he missed all of the 2025 campaign.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Closing in on season debut
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General manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Jones (elbow) will return to Pittsburgh and throw a bullpen session Tuesday before the Pirates determine whether he'll return from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After making his previous two rehab starts at Double-A Altoona, Jones shifted his minor-league assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, when he tossed 76 pitches (47 strikes) while allowing three runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts across 4.1 innings. Jones missed all of last season due to a UCL injury in his right elbow that required surgery in May, but he's looked strong across his five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. If Jones checks out fine following Tuesday's side session, he could be activated from the IL as soon as Thursday.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Turns in strong start with Altoona
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Jones (elbow) threw four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out four in a rehab appearance with Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, per MLB.com.
This marked Jones' third rehab start and was his longest outing. However, his pitch count remained stable, as he threw 52 total pitches, 36 of which went for strikes. Jones will likely make a few more rehab appearances; so far, he's allowed only one earned run across 10 innings while maintaining an 11:1 K:BB.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Makes second rehab outing
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Jones (elbow) allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk while striking out two across three innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Jones threw 35 of his 54 pitches for strikes while sitting at 98.8 miles per hour with his fastball. The right-hander, who is working his way back from UCL surgery, is set to make at least a few more starts in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list, but the final steps of his recovery look to be on track.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Big velocity in first rehab start
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Jones (elbow) struck out five over three perfect innings in his first rehab start with Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday.
Jones overwhelmed the A-ball hitters, regularly reaching 100 mph and hitting 101.1 mph on his final pitch of the first inning, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The right-hander required only 41 pitches as he cruised through his three frames. It's a very encouraging first rehab outing for Jones, who is coming back from internal brace surgery that he had last May. Jones is on the 60-day injured list and thus not eligible for activation until late May, so he will continue to deliberately build up stamina before rejoining the Pirates' rotation in a few weeks.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Beginning rehab assignment
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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that Jones (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Single-A Bradenton, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old has been throwing to live batters for a while and has now been cleared to pitch in games for the first time since undergoing an internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his right elbow last May. Jones' rehab assignment will be a lengthy one, and since he won't be eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list until late May, the Pirates aren't in a major rush to build up his pitch count.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Uses full arsenal in live BP
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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that Jones (elbow) made use of all of his pitches during his most recent live batting practice session April 6, MLB.com reports.
Jones has been conducting his rehab from UCL surgery at the Pirates' facility in Florida, but he has returned to Pittsburgh this week and is scheduled to throw a side session in front of the coaching and medical staffs Tuesday, per Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com. The Pirates haven't revealed a timeline for when Jones might be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment, but he could be ready to take that step soon since he's been able to face hitters in live BP for nearly two months. Jones won't be eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list until late May and will likely need close to the entire 30-day window to build up his pitch count during his rehab assignment.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Should be game-ready by late May
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Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Jones (elbow) should be ready for game action when he's eligible to return from the 60-day injured list in late May, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
It's not clear whether that means he will be ready to pitch for the Pirates at that point or ready to pitch on a rehab assignment. Jones underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last May and is "coming out really good" following a live batting practice session Friday, per Tomczyk. The 24-year-old made 22 starts for the Pirates in 2024, posting a 4.14 ERA and 132:39 K:BB across 121.2 frames.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Set for live batting practice
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Jones (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
It'll be the first time Jones has faced hitters since he underwent a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow last May. The young right-hander has already been placed on the 60-day injured list, so he will not be eligible for his season debut until late May. A return by that time would be a best-case scenario, but Jones' rehab has gone well to this point.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Could start throwing in September
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Jones (elbow) will meet with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, in early September and could be cleared to begin a throwing program if all goes well during his checkup, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Nearly four months removed from surgery to repair a UCL tear in his right elbow, Jones thus far hasn't hit any snags in the early stages of his recovery and could soon take his first major step forward by beginning to play catch. At the time Jones' surgery was performed May 21, the Pirates estimated that he would be ready to pitch in games approximately 10-to-12 months later, so the right-hander would appear to have an outside chance of being ready for Opening Day in 2026. Jones' outlook for next season likely won't become clearer until spring training, when the Pirates should have an update regarding where he stands in his throwing program.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Likely set for Tommy John surgery
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Jones (elbow) may have to undergo Tommy John surgery, John Perrotto of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Jones has missed the entirety of the 2025 season to this point while nursing a UCL sprain in his right elbow, and it now appears that he'll require surgery. With the Pirates well out of contention, the move comes as no surprise since there's no reason to take any chances with his health. It's a disappointing turn of events for fantasy managers though, as the right-hander was coming off of a 2024 rookie campaign in which he compiled a 4.14 ERA and 9.8 K/9 over 121.2 innings in 22 starts with Pittsburgh. Jones will now likely be sidelined for not only the remainder of 2025, but likely most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Shifting to 60-day IL
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The Pirates transferred Jones (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
This move won't affect Jones' timetable for a return, as he recently began a six-week no-throw program and is unlikely to be ready to make his season debut until at least June while he recovers from a UCL sprain in his right elbow. The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Alexander Canario, who was acquired from the Mets on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Officially placed on injured list
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The Pirates placed Jones (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Jones has damage to the UCL in his right elbow but will attempt to treat the injury with rest and rehab rather than surgery. He will be shut down from throwing for six weeks before ramping back up. The righty will be a candidate to be shifted to the 60-day injured list when/if the Pirates need a roster spot, as it's unlikely he'll be back before June.
