The Pittsburgh Pirates just drafted a guy with a very familiar name.
The newest Pirates pick: Jared Jones, out of LSU.
Not to be confused with right-handed pitcher Jared Jones, who has already shown he might be an MLB star before getting injured.
LSU's Jones was the 263rd pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He was ranked No. 101 in the MLB.com rankings, so it might turn out to be a steal, if the Pirates can sign him.
Here's how MLB.com describes Jones:
Jones has ranked as one of the best power hitters in the 2022 prep class and one of the top sluggers in the '24 and '25 college crops. He went undrafted as a Georgia high schooler and while sophomore-eligible last July because of concerns about his bat, athleticism and signability. After slugging 64 homers and winning two College World Series in three years at Louisiana State, he could land in the third or fourth round. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Jones has plenty of strength and leverage in his right-handed stroke, generating top-of-the-scale raw power and exit velocities.
He's doing a better job of understanding that he can hit the ball out of any park from foul pole to foul pole without selling out for home runs. Strikeouts always will be part of his game, but he's employing the opposite field more often and doing more damage against breaking balls. Jones has lost a little weight and is moving a little better as a junior, but he still has well-below-average speed and athleticism that hinder his value outside of the batter's box. While he does feature impressive arm strength, he's a limited defender who lacks range at first base and may wind up as a DH in pro ball. He caught in high school and briefly as a freshman, and he has seen sporadic action at third base as a junior, but neither position is a viable option.
MORE: Why Nationals chose Eli Willits over Ethan Holliday at No. 1 overall pick
At this point in the draft, taking a guy who might be bat-first or bat-only isn't a bad move, not when the bat is as good as Jones' is.
You don't win two CWS or hit 64 homers for an SEC team without being a legit talent.
He just doesn't have a unique name. But the Pirates will hope he gets to the majors fast and forces them to figure out how to differentiate, because that'd be a good problem to have.
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