First start since '24? Jones opens with triple digits on first 9 fastballs

PITTSBURGH -- Pirates manager Don Kelly knew Jared Jones would be emotional. The often fiery starting pitcher delivered some added juice with blazing fastballs in his first start in 20 months.

Jones struck out six while allowing seven hits and five runs through 4 1/3 innings in Friday's series opener against the Twins at PNC Park -- his first start since Sept. 27, 2024, as he returned from surgery to repair his right UCL.

Jones’ first nine fastballs were all clocked at 100 mph or higher, and he maxed out at 101.5 overall. Though on his seventh heater, center fielder Kody Clemens turned around a 100.1 mph fastball for a solo home run. The pitch was the fastest anyone has homered off of in baseball this season.

Kelly said pregame Jones would go five innings if everything went well, adding that he definitely wouldn't get to 100 pitches. In the second inning, Jones was already being pushed to his limit. He allowed a single and walked two batters to load the bases with no outs.

Jones then struck out Luke Keaschall before allowing a two-run single to No. 9 hitter Tristan Gray. The next batter, Byron Buxton, grounded into a double play to end the frame.

Jones found a bit of a groove before Trevor Larnach sent a 98 mph fastball out of the stadium and into the Allegheny River on a bounce, which gave Minnesota a 5-3 lead in the third. Jones then struck out three of his final four batters before exiting with 77 pitches and a runner on first. Left-hander Evan Sisk closed Jones’ line without any more damage.

Jones' 2024 season featured heavy fastball usage and the use of a slider 35% of the time. On Friday, he recorded 25% slider usage, and a curveball used more evenly than before at 19% (yearly average of 9%).

On Thursday, Jones was asked if he feels like a different pitcher since last taking a Major League mound. He left it on a cliffhanger saying, “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”