Pirates' Jared Jones: Facing 10-to-12-month recovery
Rotowire
The Pirates announced that Jones underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair the UCL in his right elbow. Jones is projected to return to full competition in 10-to-12 months.
Jones will miss the rest of the season, but the positive news is that his elbow procedure wasn't a standard Tommy John surgery, which would have carried a lengthier recovery timeline. The projected 10-to-12-month recovery window from surgery still likely means that Jones will open the 2026 season on the injured list, though an April or May return to the Pittsburgh rotation could be in the cards if he experiences no snags in the recovery process. Jones should be ready to begin a throwing program by the winter, and a firmer target date for his 2026 debut will likely come into focus during spring training.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Jones: Season-ending surgery confirmed
Rotowire
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Jones will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday on his right elbow, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Tomczyk didn't indicate whether the upcoming procedure will be Tommy John surgery, an internal brace surgery or another kind of surgery, so Jones' status for the 2026 season won't be immediately known until more details are provided. Even if the 23-year-old righty doesn't need to miss much time to begin the 2026 season, he could struggle to immediately regain his pre-surgery velocity and command, making him a risky investment in fantasy leagues.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Jones: Likely set for Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Jones: Begins throwing progression
Rotowire
Jones (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Jones had been shut down since mid-March following a diagnosis of a UCL sprain in his right elbow. It's the beginning of what will be a lengthy throwing progression for the young right-hander, as he will be building back up from scratch. A timetable for Jones' return to the Pirates' rotation likely won't be available for several weeks, even if all goes well.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Jones: Shifting to 60-day IL
Rotowire
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.
Pirates' Jared Jones: Officially placed on injured list
Rotowire
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.
Jones was diagnosed with a UCL sprain to the right elbow Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Pirates initially announced the injury as soreness, but Todd Tomcyzk, the team's director of sports medicine, delivered the full diagnosis Wednesday. He further elaborated that the ligament is stable, which has allowed Jones to avoid surgery for the time being. The announcement doesn't appear to change Jones' timeline to return as he'll still be shut down from throwing for six weeks, though there's a chance he will begin a two-handed plyo program in roughly three weeks.
Pirates' Jared Jones: Avoiding surgery, but out long term
Rotowire
Jones won't require surgery on his sore right elbow but he'll be held out from throwing for six weeks and will begin the season on the injured list, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Jones was unable to make his final Grapefruit League start last week after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow, prompting the Pirates to send him in for tests. After receiving a pair of medical opinions, Jones has elected to go the rest-and-rehab route for treating the injury, but he won't be able to resume a throwing program until around mid-May and will likely need several weeks after that to get fully stretched back out for a starting role. As a result of the 23-year-old's injury, Carmen Mlodzinski will open the season in the rotation as Pittsburgh's No. 5 starter.
Pirates' Jared Jones: Seeks second opinion on sore elbow
Rotowire
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Jones has already had imaging on his sore right elbow and is waiting on a second opinion, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
A second opinion on an injury typically isn't sought out if the first opinion is favorable, so the news is less than ideal. However, Tomczyk added that "I don't want to be an alarmist" and was quick to point out that the team is still in the information-gathering stage. Jones will not pitch again during spring training and a stint on the injured list is highly likely, but the bigger concern here is if the right-hander needs surgery. More on Jones' status should be known in the coming days.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Jones: Set to miss final spring start
Rotowire
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Wednesday that Jones experienced elbow discomfort during his most recent bullpen session and won't be able to make his final Grapefruit League start later this week, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Shelton said that the Pirates will have internal conversations regarding when Jones will be able to make his first start of the season, but given that elbow discomfort can often foreshadow a more significant injury, the young right-hander would seem at high risk of landing on the injured list. Before a decision is made on Jones' next steps, the Pirates will presumably wait and see how his elbow responds to a few days of rest. If Jones is shelved to begin the season, the Pirates could open up a spot in the rotation for prospect Thomas Harrington, who wasn't expected to break camp with the big club but excelled in his first Grapefruit League start Tuesday.
9:07
8:43
9:58
5:56
6:05
1:44
0:41
11:53
0:41
1:04
0:34
11:41
1:31
10:26
1:42
11:03
0:47
2:04
0:22
9:44
