Jared

Jones

That suggests it was internal brace surgery, rather than the full Tommy John. The latter would have put him out for at least the first two-thirds of 2026, but now he could return in the first half. Jones, one of the NL’s most promising young pitchers, went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA as a 22-year-old rookie last season.

Jones reportedly felt discomfort in his elbow late last week when he started throwing at 100 feet. The 23-year-old will undergo surgery on Wednesday, though the specifics aren’t yet known. The Pirates will have a clearer timeline for his recovery after the procedure, but at the very least we know that he’s done for the year.

There are reports circulating that Jones is likely to undergo Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery — and that is an option that’s on the table — but no decision has been made just yet. The Pirates should have an update on his status after his visit with the doctor on Tuesday. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues who have been holding out hope for a return this season can probably cut bait.

Jones has officially resumed throwing after being shut down back in mid-March with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him back in Pittsburgh’s rotation until sometime in June, barring any setbacks, but it’s an extremely encouraging development. The dynamic 23-year-old righty is one of the most promising young pitchers in the game and should be stashed in all fantasy formats.

Jones could potentially be cleared to start a throwing program afterwards. The dynamic 23-year-old righty has been completely shut down from throwing since the late stages of spring training recovering from a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to return to Pittsburgh’s rotation until sometime in June.

It’s merely a procedural move to free up a spot on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster since Jones was expected to be sidelined until at least early June as he recovers from a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Nothing has changed from a return timetable standpoint as Jones isn’t expected to resume throwing until at least early May, and won’t be ready to return until sometime in June, barring any setbacks.

We found out yesterday that Jones has been diagnosed with a UCL sprain and will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks. Seeing him on the mound in mid-June is probably the best case scenario at this point.

Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk confirmed Wednesday that Jones has received multiple opinions confirming a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Tomczyk added that imaging didn’t reveal any ligament damage and Jones will not require surgery. The dynamic 23-year-old righty is headed for the rest and rehabilitation route, which includes being shut down from throwing for the next six weeks. He’ll require several weeks to build up his arm strength and stamina once he resumes throwing in early May, which means fantasy managers shouldn’t expect to see him back in the big leagues until sometime in June, barring any setbacks.

Hiles adds that Jones hasn’t been diagnosed with any torn ligaments in his right elbow. We’re anxiously waiting for an official diagnosis from the Pirates, but it sounds like a potential best-case scenario. The dynamic 23-year-old righty isn’t completely out of the woods yet, but it doesn’t appear that he’s in jeopardy of undergoing season-ending surgery. He’ll require several weeks to build up his arm strength and stamina once he resumes throwing in early May, which means fantasy managers shouldn’t expect to see him back in the big leagues until sometime in June, barring any setbacks. There should be some additional clarity on his status in the coming days.

Tomczyk added that Jones will not pitch again in spring training due to right elbow discomfort and remains without an official diagnosis or timetable to resume throwing. The electrifying 23-year-old righty will open the regular season on the injured list with his absence opening the door for Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington or Carmen Mlodzinski to break camp in Pittsburgh’s rotation. Chandler would be the most intriguing from a fantasy standpoint by a considerable margin, but he might be the least likely to get the nod. There should be some much-needed clarity on his status at some point later this week.