On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates learned that pitcher Jared Jones needs Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow. The news was announced on Wednesday’s pregame show on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Given the normal recovery time, Jones will miss the rest of this season as well as all of 2026. On pace to become one of the worst teams in Pirates history with a 16-33 record, they needed more bad news like Deion Sanders needs more jewelry.
Jared Jones To Undergo Elbow Surgery https://t.co/CkONowDhGx pic.twitter.com/KyNW4ir0Aa
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) May 21, 2025
Pirates Jones Needs Tommy John Surgery
On March 25, the Pirates shut Jones down when he experienced elbow discomfort due to a UCL sprain. At the time, it was determined that there was no ligament damage. The recommendation was that he refrain from throwing for six weeks. Then he’d begin a throwing program that would have him ready to pitch by around June or July. Thus, Jones went on the 15-day and then the 60-day injured list.
Jones began his throwing program on April 30. Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk gave the media a timetable of 12 weeks before Jones could be seen throwing in a Pittsburgh major league uniform again. Tomczyk sounded an optimistic tone, saying Jones might even make it ahead of that schedule if his arm responded well. Unfortunately, last week, the Pirates became concerned with how Jones was progressing and recommended that he have a specialist take another look at the elbow. Hence, Tuesday’s appointment with Dr. Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers Head Team Physician.
Big Loss for the Pirates
The fearless right-hander Jones, 23, was the Pirates No. 3 prospect when he made the team out of spring training last year. He was 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.192 WHIP while striking out 132 batters in 121 2/3 innings. He came out of the gate strong, posting a 3.27 ERA after 13 starts. Thereafter, opposing batters started to catch up with him. Jones had three rough starts before straining his lat muscle on July 4. When he returned after almost two months on the IL, his last six starts didn’t go well. Over that time, his ERA was 5.87, although a 4.76 FIP indicated poor support, and bad luck contributed.
Nevertheless, the Pirates were counting heavily on Jones to help them reach their goal of a winning season for 2025. Instead, he’s another personification of the baseball axiom that a team can never have enough pitching. Talk that he would be part of a formidable rotation that included Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and No. 1 prospect Bubba Chandler now must be postponed until 2027.
Main Photo Credits: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
