Don Kelly gives Pirates fans encouraging timeline on Jared Jones return

For months, everything surrounding Jared Jones has felt uncertain. Now, for the first time, there’s clarity.

When the Pittsburgh Pirates officially placed Jones on the 60-day injured list while making José Urquidy’s signing official, it wasn’t a setback — it was a calendar marker. And according to manager Don Kelly, that calendar is lining up exactly how they hoped.

While “60-day IL” can sound ominous, in this case it’s procedural. The clock doesn’t start until Opening Day, meaning Jones could return as early as May 25. And Kelly made it clear: that’s right in line with the original rehab plan.

“Going into it, the target was May-June, somewhere in there," Kelly said earlier this week. "The rehab calendar lining up to the end of May, beginning of June and then where Jared is at… he’s doing fantastic.”

After Jones felt arm discomfort last spring, attempted a return, then ultimately underwent internal brace surgery on May 21 for a UCL sprain, the organization knew this was a long play. Internal brace surgery isn’t as invasive as Tommy John, but it’s still ligament repair. It’s still months of rebuilding strength and trust in the elbow, and the Pirates aren't rushing this.

“Just want to make sure that he continues on that track, where it’s not rushed, that we have a full Jared Jones when he comes back," Kelly said. "He’s throwing the ball really well.”

Pirates' starting rotation is built with a healthy Jared Jones in mind

The Pirates' rotation looks very different once Jones is back. His power arsenal — the upper-90s fastball, the biting slider — changes the ceiling of this staff. He was one of the most electric arms in baseball before the injury derailed his 2025 season. Getting him back by late May means the Pirates could effectively add a frontline-caliber arm without making a trade.

Jones can rehab while on the 60-day IL, meaning we should see sim games, then minor league outings, before he’s activated. In other words, he'll have the time to ramp up properly. And in a division that rarely runs away from anyone, getting Jones back before the heart of the season could feel like a midseason acquisition.

So mark your calendars, Pirates fans. If everything continues according to plan, Pittsburgh will get Jones back at full strength, right when it matters most.