PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Before June last year when the Bucs selected Paul Skenes first overall in the MLB Draft, Jared Jones had the best stuff in the Pirates minor league system. Now Jones is going to get the opportunity to show that at the major league level.
Jones just pitched too well while a few others struggled. The 22-year-old earned the opportunity giving up three runs, none earned in 16.1 innings during Grapefruit League games. He allowed nine hits, struck out 15 and walked eight.
“Just staying in myself, knowing spots to throw pitches and trusting my catchers,” Jones told 93.7 The Fan about his performance this Spring. “They are clicking the right buttons. It’s been good so far.”
Last year Jones dominated at AA Altoona, in 10 starts had a 2.23 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and opponents hit just .201 against him. He also had pretty good control walking 16 to 47 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. He was promoted to Indianapolis where overall the ERA was 4.72 and the WHIP 1.32. The Bucs second-round pick in 2020 struck out 99 in 82 innings with 34 walks.
Jones was ok in his first month and a half at AAA and then struggled with his control in August. He walked 18 in 25 innings and gave up 18 earned runs with a 1.80 WHIP. The 6’1”, 190 pounder finished strong walking only six in 22.2 innings in September, allowing a little more pitch to contact and had a 2.78 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .198 opponents batting average.
He brought that game, and that fastball which averaged 96 miles an hour in 2023, with him to Bradenton and he trusted his stuff. With the exception of his final Grapefruit League appearance against the Red Sox, where he walked four on March 23, he had great control. For example, in the previous start against Atlanta, he threw 25 pitches, 21 for strikes.
“I’m proud of what I’ve shown, but I don’t think I’ve shown everything,” Jones told 93.7 The Fan. “I’ve kept the changeup in the back pocket, which I’m not happy about. I want to throw that pitch a lot more. I haven’t had too many spots to throw it in.”
It wasn’t the Spring for him to experiment with pitches. Jones was trying to make the rotation, which it appears he has.
"He's gone right after guys," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. "That's been the biggest thing we've talked to him about, stay in attack mode."
Drafted during COVID, Jones has only pitched three professional seasons. There was no minor league baseball in 2020 and his first two pro years he had a 4.63 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He took a step in 2023 as you could see him mature on the mound.
Now the opportunity for the third rated prospect in the organization to show he will indeed be a part of a better tomorrow.