Pirates Minor League Report: Jared Jones Nearing Return

Pirates’ affiliates won just one game on Tuesday night, with standout rookie Jared Jones turning in the best performance to date of his rehab assignment. With five innings completed and 73 pitches thrown, he’s probably near a return to the big league roster… assuming that Pittsburgh falling out of contention doesn’t spur the Buccos to treat him with kid gloves as he gets close to a career high in innings pitched.

Jones looked surgical in his third start since going down with a lat strain in early July, striking out 10 batters and allowing just two baserunners. Despite his best efforts, Indianapolis lost 2-1 to the Columbus Clippers in extra innings.

Altoona came back to take a 7-5 win from the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Anthony Solometo put together a solid (if unimpressive) performance, striking out five batters in 4.1 innings and allowing two earned runs, while Tsung-Che Cheng and Kervin Pichardo each notched home runs.

Greensboro lost 6-1 to the Asheville Tourists as the bullpen got lit up, unable to capitalize on six innings of one-hit ball from 2022 sixth round pick Derek Diamond. 

2023 prep pick Zander Mueth got roughed up in his fourth start for Bradenton, allowing three earned runs (and another unearned), striking out six batters but needing 73 pitches to navigate three innings. The Marauders went on to lose 10-3.

Triple-A Indianapolis (57-60)

RHP Jared Jones

• Game: 5 IP, 0 ER, 10 K’s.
• Season: 11 IP, 4.91 ERA, 16 K’s in 3 rehab starts.

UTIL Nick Yorke

• Game: 2-for-4 with 2 singles and a walk.
• Season: .292/.371/.427 with 22 doubles and 10 homers in 101 games between the Pirates and Red Sox organizations.

Double-A Altoona (47-67)

LHP Anthony Solometo

• Game: 4.1 IP, 2 ER (1 unearned), 5 K’s.
• Season: 54.1 IP, 5.47 ERA, 41 K’s in 19 appearances (16 starts) throughout the Pirates Organization.

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
• Season: .224/.328/.363 with 16 doubles and 11 homers in 103 games.

High-A Greensboro (63-50)

RHP Derek Diamond

• Day: 6 IP, 0 ER, 6 K’s.
• Season: 84.2 IP, 4.89 ERA, 74 K’s in 20 appearances (16 starts).

C Shawn Ross

• Game: 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .185/.337/.450 with 6 doubles and 20 homers in 75 games.

Single-A Bradenton (48-67)

RHP Zander Mueth

• Game: 3 IP, 3 ER (1 unearned), 6 K’s.
• Season: 62 IP, 2.32 ERA, 69 K’s in 17 appearances (16 starts) between rookie ball and Bradenton.