One-on-one: Jones counting his days ... and his blessings
Since being shut down and put on a no-throw program for at least six weeks, Jared Jones (elbow) has been counting down the days until he can get back to work.
He's been with the Pirates since they broke camp in Bradenton, Fla. and has been watching from the dugout.
"I have to watch the team for however long until I’m back," Jones told me today. "It doesn’t suck because you get to watch major-league baseball every day, you get to watch your friends do it. But just knowing that I won’t be out there for a month or however long it is, just kinda gotta count down those days until I am."
Jones hasn't thrown since mid-March, and the team announced last week that he was going to be out with a UCL sprain, but also that he won't need surgery. He could begin a two-handed plyo ball program in about two weeks after another physician's exam.
When I asked Jones about his injury today, he said it was something that had been lingering for a few days before he spoke up.
"Kinda just getting into it, my arm is my livelihood, it’s not really something to mess around with or try to push through," he said. "The day of the bullpen was the day I finally spoke up about it. Felt like a lingering thing for like a day or two before, but just thought it was a bad recovery day or something like that."
Despite his velocity dipping for a pitch or two during his final start of the spring against the Twins, Jones said he "felt great that day" and it had nothing to do with his current injury.
While he's out for the foreseeable future, Jones knew his best course was to speak up rather push through. He's not happy about the situation, which isn't surprising considering his competitiveness, but he's aware of the alternative.
"I mean I could’ve been out 18 months if I tried to push through it," Jones said of the timeframe generally associated with Tommy John surgery. "But, definitely glad ... I mean, glad isn’t the right word, but it could be a lot worse. I’m glad it’s only a couple of weeks."
Meaning, again, without throwing.
Jones had been in line for a breakout sophomore season. As a rookie last year, he made 22 starts, recorded a 4.14 ERA and struck out 132 over 121 2/3 innings of work.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
4:40 am - 04.02.2025TAMPA, FLA.One-on-one: Jones counting his days ... and his blessings
Since being shut down and put on a no-throw program for at least six weeks, Jared Jones (elbow) has been counting down the days until he can get back to work.
He's been with the Pirates since they broke camp in Bradenton, Fla. and has been watching from the dugout.
"I have to watch the team for however long until I’m back," Jones told me today. "It doesn’t suck because you get to watch major-league baseball every day, you get to watch your friends do it. But just knowing that I won’t be out there for a month or however long it is, just kinda gotta count down those days until I am."
Jones hasn't thrown since mid-March, and the team announced last week that he was going to be out with a UCL sprain, but also that he won't need surgery. He could begin a two-handed plyo ball program in about two weeks after another physician's exam.
When I asked Jones about his injury today, he said it was something that had been lingering for a few days before he spoke up.
"Kinda just getting into it, my arm is my livelihood, it’s not really something to mess around with or try to push through," he said. "The day of the bullpen was the day I finally spoke up about it. Felt like a lingering thing for like a day or two before, but just thought it was a bad recovery day or something like that."
Despite his velocity dipping for a pitch or two during his final start of the spring against the Twins, Jones said he "felt great that day" and it had nothing to do with his current injury.
While he's out for the foreseeable future, Jones knew his best course was to speak up rather push through. He's not happy about the situation, which isn't surprising considering his competitiveness, but he's aware of the alternative.
"I mean I could’ve been out 18 months if I tried to push through it," Jones said of the timeframe generally associated with Tommy John surgery. "But, definitely glad ... I mean, glad isn’t the right word, but it could be a lot worse. I’m glad it’s only a couple of weeks."
Meaning, again, without throwing.
Jones had been in line for a breakout sophomore season. As a rookie last year, he made 22 starts, recorded a 4.14 ERA and struck out 132 over 121 2/3 innings of work.
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