The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted a player in the ninth round who may sound familiar. They selected Jared Jones, a first baseman out of Louisiana State University. This gives the Pirates two Jared Joneses, with the other being the standout 2024 rookie right-hander who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this season. However, this Jones has a chance to be a big-time power hitter.
Jones batted .323/.414/.613 in his final season at LSU. Known for his power, he hit 22 home runs in 326 plate appearances with a .290 isolated slugging percentage. This was a ‘down’ year for him, as he smacked 28 home runs in 2024 with a 1.