Don Kelly offers Pirates fans a hopeful roadmap for Jared Jones’s comeback
For a long stretch, uncertainty hung over Jared Jones’s timeline. Now, there’s a clear path forward that is easy to grasp.
When the Pirates officially placed Jones on the 60-day injured list while confirming the signing of José Urquidy, the move wasn’t a setback as much as a calendar cue. Manager Don Kelly says the timeline is unfolding exactly as they hoped.
Despite the phrase “60-day IL” sounding serious, this situation is mostly procedural. The countdown begins on Opening Day, meaning Jones could be back as soon as May 25. And Kelly emphasized that this aligns with the rehab plan they laid out from the start.
“Going into it, the target was May-June, somewhere in there,” Kelly explained earlier this week. “The rehab calendar is tracking toward the end of May or early June, and depending on where Jared stands, he’s progressing beautifully.”
Jones felt elbow discomfort last spring, attempted a comeback, and ultimately underwent internal brace surgery on May 21 for a UCL sprain. The Pirates understood from the outset that this would be a long process. Internal brace surgery isn’t as invasive as a full Tommy John procedure, but it still involves ligament repair and months of rebuilding strength and trust in the elbow. The organization isn’t rushing him.
“We just want to ensure he stays on that steady path, so we have a fully recovered Jared Jones when he returns,” Kelly said. “He’s throwing the ball exceptionally well.”
Jones’s rehab schedule targets a May/June return, and his placement on the 60-day IL aligns with that plan. When you see him throw, you can tell he’s progressing well. The goal is to keep him on track rather than push him back prematurely, so he returns at full strength.
Pirates fans can expect a very different rotation once Jones is back. His combination of a powerful upper-90s fastball and a sharp, biting slider would raise the ceiling of the staff. Before his injury, he was among the sport’s most electric arms, and a return by late May could effectively give Pittsburgh a frontline-quality pitcher without needing a trade.
Jones will be able to continue his rehabilitation while on the 60-day IL, with simulated games and minor-league outings likely before activation. In short, he’ll have ample time to ramp up properly. In a division that typically stays closely contested, getting Jones back before the heart of the season could feel like a midseason addition.
So, mark your calendars, Pirates Nation. If all goes as planned, Pittsburgh will welcome a fully recovered Jared Jones right when it matters most, potentially giving the team a significant boost at the outset of the stretch run.
What do you think: should the Pirates take a cautious approach and bring Jones back gradually even if May arrives, or push for a quicker return if he’s showing strong progress?
