Jared Jones Returns: Pirates Spot Right-Hander for Friday MLB Comeback

Jared Jones: Back in the Bucs’ Mix After a Long Road to Recovery

After a grueling 12-month layoff thanks to an elbow injury and surgery, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones is finally set to return to the mound. Let’s dig into what his comeback means, the impact of his absence, and how the Pirates are shuffling things around to get him back in the rotation.

We’ll also take a look at his past performance and what the team hopes he’ll bring to the table this season.

The Comeback Kid: Jared Jones’ Return to the Bigs

It’s been a tough, winding road for the young Pirates pitcher. After a promising rookie campaign in 2024, injury struck and sidelined Jared Jones for the entire 2025 season.

He tore his UCL and needed internal brace surgery on May 21, 2025. That meant a year of rehab, frustration, and the daily grind of trying to get back to form.

A Year on the Sidelines

Missing nearly a full year of baseball is a huge hurdle for anyone, especially a pitcher. Rebuilding arm strength, tweaking mechanics, and finding that competitive edge again isn’t easy.

Jones seems to have embraced the challenge, though. He’s talked about how grateful and excited he feels to be back.

“It feels pretty damn cool,” Jones said, grinning about just being in the dugout and getting ready to pitch again. That kind of attitude says a lot about the mental toughness it takes to bounce back from an injury like his.

The Road to Readiness: Rehab Starts

Before he could rejoin the Major League rotation, Jones went through a thorough rehab assignment in the minors. That phase let him slowly ramp up his workload and get used to the pressures of game action again.

He pitched 18 1/3 innings across five rehab starts, which shows both his progress and the team’s careful approach. The Pirates didn’t rush it—always a smart move with an arm coming off major surgery.

Assessing Past Performance and Future Expectations

Jones’ rookie season in 2024 gave fans and the team a real sense of what he might be capable of. The Pirates hope he can get back to that level, or maybe even better.

A Promising Rookie Campaign

In his first season, Jared Jones flashed plenty of promise. He went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA over 22 starts.

Those numbers aren’t going to win him any awards, but they showed he could handle a big-league workload and hold his own. That’s a solid foundation for a young pitcher.

Looking Ahead: What Jones Brings Back

The Pirates are getting back more than just another arm. Jones has already shown he can get through innings and hang with tough hitters.

He could be a huge help as the team navigates the rest of the season. Maybe the time away has sharpened his focus, maybe he’s added a wrinkle or two to his game—we’ll see.

Strategic Roster Adjustments: Mlodzinski’s New Role

Jones’ return means the Pirates have to juggle their pitching staff. That leads to a big change for fellow right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski.

The Bullpen Bound Mlodzinski

To make space for Jones in the rotation, Carmen Mlodzinski will shift from starting to the bullpen. It’s a big move for Mlodzinski, who’s had some bright moments as a starter.

Still, he’s shown he can be effective in relief, and that flexibility makes him an asset to the bullpen.

Managerial Insight: Maximizing Wins

Pirates manager Don Kelly says this decision is about giving the team the best shot to win in every part of the game. He pointed out that Mlodzinski can handle multiple innings and step up in high-pressure bullpen spots.

With this move, Mlodzinski shifts into more of a “starter-ish” bulk reliever. That kind of role can really shake things up for a pitching staff.

Mlodzinski’s season stats—4-3 record and a 3.76 ERA—show he’s been solid. His career 2.63 ERA over 94 relief appearances also makes you think he’s pretty adaptable.

The club seems to care a lot about building depth and keeping their pitching options flexible.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Pirates’ Jared Jones to make 1st MLB appearance since ’24 on Friday