Jared Jones Celebrating Christmas in September as Rehab Hits Big Milestone
PITTSBURGH – For the first time since undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow, Jared Jones was back at PNC Park for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ final homestand of the 2025 season.
Jones was placed on the 15-day injured list when the Pirates broke camp before being transferred to the 60-day IL a few days later.
Less than two months after first being placed on the injured list, it was announced that Jones would miss the entire season after going under the knife.
“It has been tough,” Jones said when asked what the last few months have been like. “Just kind of sitting on my couch watching the Pirates game, obviously would rather be here watching if anything, or playing.”
The timing of Jones’ surgery was unfortunate considering he established himself as a key piece of the Pirates’ starting rotation a year ago.
Jones went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts during his rookie season and struck out 132 batters in 121.2 innings.
Though it’s been a long time since he last picked up a baseball, Jones resumed throwing earlier this month, a major milestone that proves he’s on the right track.
“I feel like a kid on Christmas every single day I get to pick up a baseball. Four months off of not being a baseball player and just working out and rehabbing. It’s been tough,” Jones explained. “Just being able to put a baseball in my hand and make a throwing motion again has been really, really fun.”
The original estimate was that Jones would return to game action in 10-12 months, which would put his return to the mound sometime between late March and late May.
Though the 24-year-old would like to return much sooner than that, he’s on schedule to return as originally estimated.
“I wanna be back tomorrow throwing baseballs again, but I guess it all just depends on a whole bunch of different things,” he said. “Whenever it’s my time to go, I’ll be ready.”
When Jones does return, he will join a mix of exciting young pitchers who have offered optimism in an otherwise bleak season.
Paul Skenes is the National League Cy Young frontrunner. A trio of rookies in Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Bubba Chandler have shown effectiveness. Johan Oviedo returned from Tommy John surgery and has pitched well, while elder statesman Mitch Keller has given the Pirates what they’ve come to expect from him.
“Yeah, I mean, you look around the clubhouse and you look at all the pitchers we have and everyone’s electric,” said Jones. “Everyone’s been really good at what they do this season. It’s going to be a lot of fun to come back to.”
Jones said that the plan is to spend the offseason at Pirate in City in Bradenton, Fla., with minor-league pitching coordinator Vic Black.
His focus during that time will be to fully recover and be a more-effective big-league pitcher once he does return to the mound for his second big-league season in 2026.
“That’s really just the main point, getting the arm healthy and stronger than what it was before,” he explained. “Making sure when I’m supposed to be back, it’s time to go and be better than what I was before.”
More about: Pirates