PITTSBURGH — It was a Christmas morning really feel for Jared Jones when he received to place his cleats to rubber on Jan. 10. After almost a yr of beginning and stopping rehab and an eventual inner brace surgical procedure on his pitching elbow in Could, the right-hander lastly was throwing a bullpen session once more.
When requested what the feelings of that day had been like, Jones answered, “Let’s go!”
One would possibly argue that’s not likely an emotion, however it’s an encapsulation of who Jones is as an individual. He’s a fiery competitor with electrical energy in his proper arm and a devil-may-care method that makes his high-90s fastball and biting slider lethal. The Pirates’ rotation sorely missed him final yr, even when they’d a great yr as a unit.
Whereas the Pirates are nonetheless looking out to accumulate extra pitching, getting a wholesome Jones again in all probability can be the most important enhance the rotation may get subsequent season.
There are nonetheless steps to take earlier than then. That first bullpen session was an enormous one. He’s now throwing two per week and is 2 or three weeks away from including breaking pitches. For these of you breaking out a calendar, that’s proper round when Pirates pitchers and catchers are going to be reporting to Bradenton, Fla., for Spring Coaching. So Jones ought to have some firm after spending a lot of his rehab at Pirate Metropolis.
“Proper now, I am competing in opposition to throwing fastballs within the zone,” Jones mentioned at PiratesFest on Friday. “Each time I do not try this, I’ve some alternative phrases for myself. So I have not misplaced that edge but.”
Shedding his edge by no means appeared like an actual concern, however including him to a rotation with reigning Cy Younger winner Paul Skenes, veteran chief Mitch Keller and younger studs like Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Hunter Barco (to not point out one other potential free agent) may make one of many strongest rotations within the sport even higher.
Whereas he was not suiting up for the staff final yr, Jones watched each sport on tv if he wasn’t within the dugout. He received to see that group take off whereas not with the ability to contribute himself for a Pirates staff that fell in need of expectations.
Not with the ability to play, one factor was clear.
“I missed baseball,” Jones mentioned. “Sitting on my sofa and watching a sport shouldn’t be enjoyable in comparison with being within the dugout or being the one flinging it.”
That’s why he hasn’t had a lot of an offseason, in his eyes. Exterior of getting married and attending one other marriage ceremony, it’s largely been a whole lot of throwing — and lots of people checking in on his rehab to verify he’s all proper.
“Some pals would come out to the home and go to to verify I am all proper,” Jones mentioned. “My spouse lives with me each day. She’s been superior for me. Actually everybody in my circle has been superior.”
The hope is Jones is returning to a extra aggressive staff in 2026, too. It has been a busier offseason for the Pirates, buying some much-needed offensive assist in Ryan O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum. Jones and Mangum lastly received to satisfy in individual at PiratesFest, however there may be extra pleasure surrounding the staff.
“Appears like we’ll win a whole lot of ballgames right here quickly,” Jones mentioned.
Jones can be an enormous enhance towards that. Time will inform when Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” will blast over PNC Park’s loudspeakers once more as he runs out to the mound. If nothing else, he’s nearer to that purpose.
“Each time I choose up a ball proper now, I recognize each second of it,” Jones mentioned.
