Jared Jones gives Pirates fans hope with encouraging recovery update

As the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2025 season winds down, one of their injured pitchers has given them reason for optimism in 2026. Right-hander Jared Jones, who has been sidelined for the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery on his right elbow, has started playing catch three times a week from 60 feet at the Pirates' spring training facility in Bradenton, Fla.

Jones suffered a UCL sprain early in spring training and appeared to be on the upswing after six weeks, but recurring symptoms eventually shut him down for the remainder of the season.

He was able to avoid Tommy John surgery, as his ligament was still intact, and instead underwent an internal brace surgery, which carries a shorter recovery timeline of 10-12 months (as opposed to the 14-16 months required for Tommy John).

Jared Jones gives positive update on recovery, jokes about Pirates' 2025 draft class

Jones told reporters (including Alex Stumpf of MLB.com) that he feels "like a kid on Christmas," elated to be throwing the ball again. And the Pirates will be elated to have him back in the fold at some point next season, whenever that may be.

Jones even joked about how much the Pirates have missed him this year, given that they selected Seth Hernandez with their first-round draft pick in July and added another Jared Jones – this one a first baseman – in the ninth round.

“I thought this draft was a little bit funny,” Jones said (via Kevin Gorman of TribLive). “They took a prep arm out of Southern California. That’s what I was. And then they took a literal Jared Jones, so I think they just missed me this entire year. It’s the Jared Jones draft.”

After going 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings over 22 starts as a rookie in 2024, Jones is eager to return to the Pirates in 2026. His surgery was on May 21, so he is not projected to be ready by Opening Day next year, but he should be able to join the Major League club around the All-Star break if all goes according to plan.

Jones' absence this season has created opportunities for newcomers like Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows, who have combined to create an electric starting rotation alongside Paul Skenes and Johan Oviedo. Adding Jones back into the mix in the coming months – even if he has to ramp up as a member of the bullpen – gives Pirates fans a lot to be excited about next year.