Cherington says Jones remains starter, Gonzales love

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Jared Jones completed his first rehab assignment going three perfect innings in Bradenton last week. What Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said about his usage going forward, plus what Cherington said of the quality he loves about Nick Gonzales.

Cherington joined Jason Mackey on the Pirates Insider Show on Sunday on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network starting with how impressed he’s been with the discipline at the plate by Bucs hitters the last two games.

Jared Jones

Eight of his first 11 pitches were over 100 miles-an-hour, Jones was fired up for his first opportunity on the mound in a game this season.

“The velocity was there, he was up to 101, but to me the biggest things were he threw all of his pitches-fastball, curve, slider, changeup,” Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan. “He was in the strike zone for the most part. You figure he’s going to get some strikeouts at that level if he’s in the strike zone. He left the outing feeling good. He checked all those boxes.”

Jones will step up from Single A Bradenton to pitch at AAA Indianapolis on Tuesday. He's not eligible to come off the 60-day Injured List until later in the month, but Cherington left no doubt what he would be when he returns to the major league roster.

“He’s a starting pitcher, long-term, he’s a starting pitcher, that’s how we feel about him,” Cherington said amid constant outside talk of him potentially being a closer. “We haven’t gotten far enough into the rehab assignment to really get clear on exactly how we are going to manage roles as he comes back on the team. We got some time to do that.”

Likely Jones will be on escalating pitch counts as he returns and the possibility he is piggybacked with Carmen Mlodzinski for a start or two or more.

Nick Gonzales

On Saturday Cherington made the decision to send Nick Yorke down to the minors as Jared Triolo completed his rehab assignment. Manager Don Kelly said on Saturday it allows Yorke to be an every day player. As for using Triolo, Kelly said it will be more of a feel and not necessarily a 50-50 split.

Gonzales has been hot with hits in 12 of his last 13 games with the average now at .336 and a .771 OPS. He was in the lineup again at third base on Sunday, but more than the numbers it’s the resolve Gonzales shows.

“He has consistently, from the time we’ve known him as an amateur, when his back is against the ball, he fights,” Cherington said on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network. “He was a walk-on in college, even in the minor leagues when he had to make an adjustment (he did). Heading into this year, it’s not guaranteed anymore, whenever he is in that situation, he fights back.”