Pirates add duplicate name to organization with peculiar 2025 MLB Draft pick

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted a player in the ninth round who may sound familiar. They selected Jared Jones, a first baseman out of Louisiana State University. This gives the Pirates two Jared Joneses, with the other being the standout 2024 rookie right-hander who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this season. However, this Jones has a chance to be a big-time power hitter.

Jones batted .323/.414/.613 in his final season at LSU. Known for his power, he hit 22 home runs in 326 plate appearances with a .290 isolated slugging percentage. This was a ‘down’ year for him, as he smacked 28 home runs in 2024 with a 1.201 OPS, adding an isolated slugging percentage approaching .450 (.446) in 2024. Still, Jones’ 2025 season was very good for a college bat.

Jones has light tower power. He regularly produces high-end exit velocities and ranked fourth in average exit velocity among D1 players at 94.1 MPH, according to Baseball America. He also had an impressive 30.6% barrel rate. Jones has the sort of raw power that could make him an annual 30+ home run hitter in the future.

Can Pirates' second Jared Jones solve his key weakness?

The question is whether Jones can keep his swinging and missing in check. Jones struck out 26.1% of the time in 2025. He also chased outside the zone nearly 30% of the time, with a 29% rate, and had a contact rate hovering around just 70%, both according to Baseball America. Jones’s carrying skills are his hitting abilities.

Jones is limited to just first base. While he was a strong-armed catcher in high school, he only made two appearances behind the dish in college. He did make five appearances at the hot corner, but doesn’t have the range or the instincts to man third base in the long term. That leaves first base as the most likely destination for Jones.

Jones definitely isn’t a for-sure answer in the long run. His hit tool is questionable at best right now. But the Pirates’ farm system needs power, and Pittsburgh got arguably the best player in the draft when it comes to ripping the cover off the ball. He is someone that should have been on the Pirates' radar for a while now, and it looks like he may have been all along. If Jones can figure out his hit tool, even to a 40-grade level, his power will carry him the rest of the way.