Pirates' Jared Jones dazzles in 3rd rehab assignment at Triple-A, striking out 10
Last Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly 93.7 FM radio show that rookie right-handed pitcher Jared Jones would make at least one more rehab start at Triple-A Indianapolis before a decision is made as to him rejoining the big-league club.
Jones, who is recovering from a lat strain that shut him down in early July, was on the hill Tuesday evening for Indianapolis and dazzled, striking out 10 in five scoreless innings.
The 23-year-old threw 73 pitches, allowing a lone hit and walking one in an eventual 2-1 Indians loss to the Columbus Clippers.
Jones made his first rehab start with the Indians on Aug. 8, allowing two earned runs over 2 2/3 innings while throwing 47 pitches.
His next start Aug. 14, Jones was roughed up, allowing four earned runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings in a 67-pitch outing.
During his Sunday radio interview, Cherington mentioned increasing Jones’ pitch count as being key in eventually determining when to end his rehab assignment.
Whether Cherington deems 73 pitches as solid enough ground to transition Jones back to the Pirates remains to be seen.
But from a performative vantage point, Jones’ stellar appearance Tuesday sends a strong signal he could be ready to rejoin the big-league rotation.
Before his injury, Jones was 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 starts and 91 innings, recording 98 strikeouts with the Pirates.
Jones’ rehab start contained several additional individual performances pertinent to the Pirates, with relievers Ryan Borucki and Carmen Mlodzinski plus infielder Nick Gonzales all beginning rehab assignments Tuesday.
On top of that, Jones was succeeded on the mound by lefty reliever Ryan Borucki, who tossed a scoreless frame.
Borucki, who recently suffered a setback to his recovery from triceps inflammation that’s sidelined him since April, continues to work at returning to pitch for the Pirates by season’s end.
Holderman (right wrist sprain) allowed a solo home run to the second batter he faced in the seventh inning.
Then, in the eighth, Mlodzinski pitched a scoreless frame.
Gonzales started at second base for the Indians and went 1 for 3 at the plate with a strikeout.
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
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