The road back to pitching in Major League games took a significant step in the right direction for Jared Jones on Wednesday.
Jones made his first appearance of the 2026 season for Single-A Bradenton, marking the first time he pitched against live competition in over a year.
The results? Arguably the best performance by any Pirate in the minor leagues all season.
Jones delivered three perfect innings against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
The rehab assignment start went well for the 24-year-old right hander. Jones didn’t allow a base runner and struck out five, throwing 41 pitches (30 for strikes).
He struck out the last batter he faced in every inning and the final two in the first and third frames.
The Pirates are building Jones back up to be a starter at the major league level.
Jones earned a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2024 following an eye-opening spring.
The 2020 second-round pick earned a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts with the Pirates striking out 132 and allowing a 1.19 WHIP in 121.2 innings.
Jones missed all of 2025 with a right arm injury that required surgery. Jones experienced discomfort in spring training and tried to rest, but eventually needed surgery to heal his arm issues.
He last appeared in an MLB game on September 27, 2024, against the Yankees.
Pittsburgh needs Jones to be a considerable part of the rotation, or even back end of the bullpen, to help a staff that doesn’t have strong depth.
The Pirates have lost four in a row, including the first three of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jones will continue to make rehab assignments across the Pirates’ affiliates and could return to the Bucco staff by the end of May or early June.
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