As the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2025 season winds down, one of their injured pitchers has given them reason for optimism in 2026. Right-hander Jared Jones, who has been sidelined for the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery on his right elbow, has started playing catch three times a week from 60 feet at the Pirates' spring training facility in Bradenton, Fla.
Jones suffered a UCL sprain early in spring training and appeared to be on the upswing after six weeks, but recurring symptoms eventually shut him down for the remainder of the season.
He was able to avoid Tommy John surgery, as his ligament was still intact, and instead underwent an internal brace surgery, which carries a shorter recovery timeline of 10-12 months (as opposed to the 14-16 months required for Tommy John).