Jared Jones Fantasy Stats

Jared Jones (elbow), a 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2024 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will make his season debut Friday at home against the Minnesota Twins, which will be Jones' first start at the big-league level since he underwent UCL surgery last May. Through five rehab starts this season, Jones has dominated the MiLB with a 2.89 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings pitched. He also had an outstanding 32.9 percent strikeout rate and a 15.5 percent SwStr rate. Jones has demonstrated elite bat-missing upside in the past. During his first turn with the Pirates back in 2024, he started 22 games and posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings. His arsenal is led by an elite four-seamer that averages 97.3 mph and a great slider that generated a 37.3 percent whiff rate in 2024. Jones, if available on your waiver wire, is a must-add starting pitcher in leagues of 12 teams or more, simply based on his swing and miss upside alone. He has the ability to be a strong contributor in all the important starting pitcher categories.

Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said on Monday that "the goal is to get Jared Jones (elbow) major-league game-ready at that one-year mark," according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tomczyk also said that Jones has looked "really good" coming out of his live batting practice sessions this spring. The 24-year-old will open the year on the 60-day injured list after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last May. Jones obviously isn't going to have a full season in 2026, and there's a good chance he's eased back in after that, but he's still worthy of a late-round stash in mixed fantasy drafts. The former second-rounder in 2020 looked the part in his MLB debut in 2024, posting a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 132 K's and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings (22 starts). Right now, Jones is ranked outside the top 100 fantasy starting pitchers at RotoBaller.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Friday in camp and will face designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and outfielder Oneil Cruz, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It's a significant development since it will be the first time that Jones will face hitters since having surgery on his right elbow last May. The 24-year-old won't be an option for the Pirates' starting rotation or for fantasy managers until at least late May, but he continues to make progress in his rehab. Among all of Pittsburgh's promising young arms, it might be easy for Jones to get lost in the shuffle after his elbow injury. In his MLB debut in 2024, Jones was impressive, going 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings over 22 starts. Because Jones won't have a full season in 2026 and he'll likely be on a strict workload, he'll only be a late-round flier to stash in fantasy drafts, at best.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed right-hander Jose Urquidy, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jones' placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he's not projected to make his 2026 season debut until sometime in late May after he had surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right arm last May. We'll have a clearer timetable for the 24-year-old once he begins to ramp up his throwing program. Despite the surgery, Jones has lots of long-term potential in Pittsburgh after impressing in his rookie campaign in 2024. In his first 22 big-league starts, the former second-rounder went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 frames. At best, Jones will be a speculative late-round selection in fantasy drafts this year, with the Bucs most likely handling him with extreme caution when he's finally back.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week as he continues his rehab program, he told John Perrotto of PiratesRoundtable. Jones experienced UCL discomfort last spring and ultimately underwent an internal brace procedure in May. As a result, he hasn't pitched in a game since his rookie season in 2024. During that campaign, he tossed 121.2 innings across 22 starts with a 3.78 xFIP, 9.76 K/9, and 2.88 BB/9. At just 24 years old, he brings plenty of upside to a young Pirates rotation that also features Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler. Perrotto said that, although the Pirates don't have an exact timetable for Jones' recovery, a June return seems realistic at the moment. He currently ranks as the #139 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) could begin a throwing program in September if his meeting with surgeon Dr. Keith Meister goes well early in the month, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jones is almost four months removed from having surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow, which he had on May 21. The 24-year-old so far has not had any setbacks in his rehab, and if that continues once he resumes throwing, there's an outside chance that he'll be ready early in the 2026 season. The Pirates will most likely be extra cautious with one of their best young arms, though, so it might be more realistic to expect Jones to return next year around midseason. Jones' ascent to the big leagues in 2024 was overshadowed by Paul Skenes, but he did show plenty of upside with 132 strikouts in 121 2/3 innings over his first 22 MLB starts.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) will have season-ending surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday, according to senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. No specific details were available on the specific nature of Jones' surgery, but he'll miss the rest of the 2025 season and most likely at least half of the 2026 season as well. An internal-brace procedure would give the 23-year-old a chance at a speedier recovery, but even then, Jones probably won't be ready for the start of next year after a long recovery. Jones' short- and long-term fantasy stock definitely take a hit with this news, and fantasy managers in single-year leagues can safely drop him now. This injury makes it much more likely that we'll see Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect, sooner than later in 2025.

PGH Baseball Now's John Perrotto reports that Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is likely to need Tommy John surgery, which means he won't pitch at all this season, according to two baseball sources. Doctors told Jones that he will need the procedure and "it's all but a done deal," according to the sources. The 23-year-old will miss the rest of the year and likely all of next year as well if he has the surgery. He's currently scheduled to meet with orthopedist Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. Jones pitched 12 innings in four Grapefruit League games in spring training before being shut down with a UCL strain in his right elbow. He started playing catch in late April in hopes of returning around mid-July, but he recently suffered a setback and is now likely to have TJ surgery. Fantasy managers in single-year formats should start looking for replacements.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) has begun a throwing progression. This is a great sign for the 23-year-old, as he has been shut down since March due to a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress as he gradually increases his workload. However, given the extent of his injury, fantasy managers should not expect Jones to return to the mound for several months, given the time he missed. Last season, the right-hander made his MLB debut and flashed solid upside as he struck out 132 batters across his first 121 1/3 innings. During this stint, he held a 4.14 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. Under the hood, Jones generated an elite 30.2 percent whiff rate with a solid .234 xBA. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to stash Jones on their injured reserve as he should carry some upside when he does return to the majors.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) is scheduled to undergo a follow-up MRI at some point this week. The 23-year-old has been shut down since late in spring training while dealing with a UCL sprain his in elbow. He hasn't thrown a baseball in quite some time, so it's going to take him weeks to ramp back up. The hope is that the MRI goes well and Jones can start a throwing program soon. After that, Jones will likely need a few rehab starts before rejoining the Pirates rotation. The organization hasn't given much of a timetable, but mid-June seems realistic for Jones to rejoin the Pirates rotation.