Pirates have worthwhile reinforcements at Triple-A with recent performances

Pittsburgh Pirates fans, rejoice – rookie right-hander Jared Jones may soon be back in the club's starting rotation.

The 23-year old, who landed on the injured list with a lat strain in early July, pitched a gem in his third rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis Tuesday. He carved through the Columbus Clippers' lineup with 73 pitches, allowing just one hit and one walk over five innings while striking out 10.

Before his injury, Jones was 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 starts and 91 innings, recording 98 strikeouts with the Pirates. General manager Ben Cherington said Sunday on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan that Jones would require "at least" one more rehab start with Indianapolis before a decision was made regarding him rejoining the major league club.

Whether Cherington views Tuesday's start as solid enough ground for transitioning Jones back to the Pirates remains to be seen, and it will likely depend largely on how Jones is feeling after throwing 73 pitches (including 53 for strikes). But if Tuesday's dominant performance is any indication, it feels like Jones' activation off the IL may be imminent.

Several other injured Pirates begin rehab assignments as Jones nears return from IL

Jones' dazzling start Tuesday with Indianapolis also marked the beginning of rehab assignments for injured relievers Ryan Borucki, Colin Holderman and Carmen Mlodzinski, as well as infielder Nick Gonzales, who started at second base and went 1-for-3 at the plate with a single and a strikeout.

Jones was relieved in the sixth inning by Borucki, who recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a tricep injury that has sidelined him since April, but went on to pitch a scoreless frame with two strikeouts. Holderman, who is rehabbing a right wrist sprain, allowed a solo home run to the second batter he faced in the seventh inning and blew the save before Mlodzinski came in to pitch a scoreless eighth in what would end up being a 6-5 Indianapolis loss.

Pirates' trade deadline acquisitions heat up at the plate for Triple-A Indianapolis

Nick Yorke got the start at center field for Indianapolis and continued his hot streak in Tuesday's loss, going 2-for-4 with the lone RBI of the game. Since joining the Pirates system in early August after a trade with the Boston Red Sox, the former first-round pick is hitting .351 with nine RBI and an .844 OPS.

First baseman Billy Cook is slashing .375/.436/.625 with eight extra-base hits since joining the Pirates in August after a prospect swap with the Baltimore Orioles. Cook went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts, a single and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss, and he has a hit in all but three of his 14 games with Indianapolis this season.

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