There is no doubt that one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ biggest strengths is their starting pitcher. It looks like this unit will be even stronger this season with the imminent return of Jared Jones.
In 2024, Jones went 6-8 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.192 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 121 innings and seemed one of Pittsburgh’s best young pitchers. Jones then had elbow surgery on his right throwing arm and missed all of 2025. But he will be back in 2026 and is aiming for a schedule between March and May.
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Jones began throwing in December, had a bullpen session in January and remains on track for the original 10-12 month injury timetable after undergoing surgery in May 2025.
Jones had this to say to MLB Network Radio:
“I’m feeling pretty good right now, I haven’t had any big hiccups yet, and I’m very grateful for that. Everything’s been going pretty well. Just getting back into everything, getting back to throwing and getting off the mound, everything feels good, and how it comes out of the hand and getting ready to throw again, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most here.”
Once healthy, Jones, now 24, will join Paul Skenes, 23, Bubb Chandler, 23, Braxton Ashcraftt, 26, and the old man of the group, Mitch Keller, 29, in a young and talented rotation this season. And with the Bucs taking some steps to liven up the offense, including adding Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn and Jake Mangum, the Pirates should give their rotation better run support this season.
If the Bucs get this offense and Jones can return healthy and back into the rotation, the Bucs are strong enough on the mound that even league average support will make a huge difference. The Pirates scored a league-worst 583 points last season. Is it possible to add around 100 points to reach the league average? That remains to be seen, but with a healthy Jones back in the fold to tighten up the rotation, the Bucs would certainly make some noise in the division if they could make it happen.
