Jared Jones must be the kind of injured player who provides Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk a dose of both excitement and consternation.
Jones, who missed all of last season, underwent surgery to his right ulnar collateral ligament last September and is currently on the 60-day injured list, told reporters Wednesday at PNC Park that he felt ready enough to pitch that day.
But that eagerness doesn’t quite mesh with Jones’ reality, as he isn’t eligible to return to the Pirates until late May at the earliest. In between now and then, there are more hurdles to clear with regards to his ongoing rehabilitation.
Still, Jones is progressing.
“He’s entering the next phase or return to major-league competition,” Tomczyk said Thursday, providing an official update on Jones. “That’s the simulation game portion or phase and that’ll begin soon. We’ll see how he responds to that and continue to monitor his recovery and progression there. All in all, most encouraged. Jared’s doing very well and on track.”
Jones has been rehabbing at the Pirates’ spring training facilities in Bradenton, Fla., but rejoined teammates at PNC Park this week for a change in scenery and to toss a 21-pitch bullpen session.
Jones’ simulation games will take place in Florida, with Pirates’ minor-leaguers recruited to serve as batters.
Per Tomczyk, several of those games could be in store before the 24-year-old Jones is able to begin a rehab assignment, likely starting at Low-A Bradenton.
“Generally speaking, for most pitchers coming back from elbow surgery such as his, there’s three to four, could be up to six, simulation-type games, including live batting practices, prior to the (medical) group considering a decision on when a rehab assignment will begin,” Tomczyk said.
“The last phase before rehab games is this simulation-game phase and that’s going to begin in the coming days. It’s not black and white with everybody.”
Jones earned a starter’s role with the Pirates coming out of spring training in 2024 and went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA over 22 starts that season, striking out 132 with 39 walks over 121⅔ innings.
He last pitched in a big-league game Sept. 27, 2024.
• Tomczyk also provided an update on another Jared, infielder Jared Triolo, who is about two weeks post-injury to his right knee patellar tendon.
Up next for Triolo, a Gold Glove winner in 2024 as a utilityman, will be baserunning work in Florida.
“Once we see him run the bases next week, I think we’ll have a better idea of resuming simulation game activities and baseball game activities,” Tomczyk said. “…To pinpoint a (return date), we’re not there yet.”
Triolo had appeared in six games for the Pirates, primarily at shortstop, batting .217 with one RBI.
• Tomczyk revealed that Pirates Top-100 (No. 45) prospect and outfielder Edward Florentino, who has yet to make his 2026 debut, is nearing a start to a rehab assignment or roster activation.
Florentino, 19, has been nursing an ankle injury.
Last season with the Bradenton Marauders, he batted .262 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 54 games.
• Right-hander Mike Clevinger, 35, suffered a right medial collateral ligament sprain and is expected to be shut down for several weeks before any rehabilitation can commence, pending further medical opinions.
Clevinger, a veteran of 164 MLB games, began the season with Triple-A Indianapolis and made six appearances pre-injury, posting a 5.19 ERA.
• Lefty Anthony Solometo, who’d risen to the Pirates’ No. 4 overall prospect in 2024 but had last year’s campaign cut short with a shoulder injury, is back on the injured list with “recurring left shoulder pain.”
Solometo, who’s played primarily at Double-A Altoona since 2023, made only three appearances last season before going down.
This year, he appeared twice for the Curve before landing on the injured list again April 10.