Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Jones (elbow) should be ready for game action when he's eligible to return from the 60-day injured list in late May, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's not clear whether that means he will be ready to pitch for the Pirates at that point or ready to pitch on a rehab assignment. Jones underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last May and is "coming out really good" following a live batting practice session Friday, per Tomczyk. The 24-year-old made 22 starts for the Pirates in 2024, posting a 4.14 ERA and 132:39 K:BB across 121.2 frames.

Jones (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

It'll be the first time Jones has faced hitters since he underwent a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow last May. The young right-hander has already been placed on the 60-day injured list, so he will not be eligible for his season debut until late May. A return by that time would be a best-case scenario, but Jones' rehab has gone well to this point.

The Pirates placed Jones (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jones sat out all of 2025 while recovering from UCL repair surgery and will now officially miss the first few months of the 2026 campaign as well. The 24-year-old righty threw an encouraging mound session Wednesday to begin spring camp, so the Pirates' decision to place him on the 60-day IL this early likely reflects a desire to take things slow while building him back up. Assuming Jones' rehab continues smoothly, he could rejoin Pittsburgh's rotation sometime in late May or early June. In the meantime, he'll give up his place on the 40-man roster to the recently signed Jose Urquidy.

Jones (elbow) said that he's throwing bullpen sessions twice a week as he continues to work through his rehab program, John Perrotto of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander is now about eight months removed from undergoing surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, and his return to mound work is an encouraging sign for his early-season availability in 2026. Jones should continue to slowly ramp up his intensity on the mound over the next couple months.

Jones (elbow) is playing catch from 60 feet three times per week, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jones underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his elbow in mid-May. He was given a 10-to-12-month timeline for recovery at the time, and reports state that he is still on track to return to "game-like activities" in that range.

Jones (elbow) will meet with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, in early September and could be cleared to begin a throwing program if all goes well during his checkup, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nearly four months removed from surgery to repair a UCL tear in his right elbow, Jones thus far hasn't hit any snags in the early stages of his recovery and could soon take his first major step forward by beginning to play catch. At the time Jones' surgery was performed May 21, the Pirates estimated that he would be ready to pitch in games approximately 10-to-12 months later, so the right-hander would appear to have an outside chance of being ready for Opening Day in 2026. Jones' outlook for next season likely won't become clearer until spring training, when the Pirates should have an update regarding where he stands in his throwing program.

The Pirates announced that Jones underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair the UCL in his right elbow. Jones is projected to return to full competition in 10-to-12 months.

EDGE Analysis

Jones will miss the rest of the season, but the positive news is that his elbow procedure wasn't a standard Tommy John surgery, which would have carried a lengthier recovery timeline. The projected 10-to-12-month recovery window from surgery still likely means that Jones will open the 2026 season on the injured list, though an April or May return to the Pittsburgh rotation could be in the cards if he experiences no snags in the recovery process. Jones should be ready to begin a throwing program by the winter, and a firmer target date for his 2026 debut will likely come into focus during spring training.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Jones will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday on his right elbow, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tomczyk didn't indicate whether the upcoming procedure will be Tommy John surgery, an internal brace surgery or another kind of surgery, so Jones' status for the 2026 season won't be immediately known until more details are provided. Even if the 23-year-old righty doesn't need to miss much time to begin the 2026 season, he could struggle to immediately regain his pre-surgery velocity and command, making him a risky investment in fantasy leagues.

Jones (elbow) may have to undergo Tommy John surgery, John Perrotto of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jones has missed the entirety of the 2025 season to this point while nursing a UCL sprain in his right elbow, and it now appears that he'll require surgery. With the Pirates well out of contention, the move comes as no surprise since there's no reason to take any chances with his health. It's a disappointing turn of events for fantasy managers though, as the right-hander was coming off of a 2024 rookie campaign in which he compiled a 4.14 ERA and 9.8 K/9 over 121.2 innings in 22 starts with Pittsburgh. Jones will now likely be sidelined for not only the remainder of 2025, but likely most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign.

Jones (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jones had been shut down since mid-March following a diagnosis of a UCL sprain in his right elbow. It's the beginning of what will be a lengthy throwing progression for the young right-hander, as he will be building back up from scratch. A timetable for Jones' return to the Pirates' rotation likely won't be available for several weeks, even if all goes well.