Pirates' 23-year old righty pitcher needs Tommy John surgery, insider reports

Billy Heyen

Pirates' 23-year old righty pitcher needs Tommy John surgery, insider reports image

Things are going from bad to worse for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After a 1-0 loss in a Paul Skenes start on Sunday, they learned that a different pitcher will probably need Tommy John surgery.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now beat writer John Perrotto reported that two of his sources have informed him that 23-year old right-hander Jared Jones will need that reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow.

"The sources said on Sunday that doctors told Jones he will need the procedure and 'it’s all but a done deal' that it will be performed soon," Perrotto writes. "Jones, 23, will miss the rest of this season and likely all next season if he has surgery."

Jones hasn't pitched yet this season.

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He went on the Injured List after 12 innings in spring training. At the time, the injury was termed an ulnar collateral strain.

Turns out, the UCL is hurt worse than a strain, and it needs Tommy John.

Jones' first MLB season was 2024. He had a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA.

He's an incredibly hard thrower, and apparently his elbow didn't hold up.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle