MILWAUKEE — Jared Jones will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton on Wednesday, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told me on the Pirates Insider Show Sunday.
It’s an important step for an important pitcher who’s expected to return in late May or early June.
Jones, who’s been on the 60-day injured list since Feb. 11, had internal brace surgery on May 21, 2025. He last appeared in a Major League game on Sept. 27, 2024.
That season, Jones went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts, walking 39 and striking out 132 in 121 1/2 innings.
When Jones does return to the Major League club, it’ll be interesting to see how the Pirates use him. Cherington and others have insisted the organization views Jones as a starter long-term.
But the Pirates will also be cognizant of his innings after serious arm surgery. Couple that with a need for middle-relief help, and the Pirates have a really talented solution roughly a month from returning.
And, if they determine that Jones would fare better as a starter, perhaps they can piggyback him and Carmen Mlodzinski. Either way, Jones is obviously an electric pitcher, and him starting a rehab assignment can only help the team.
“At some point he’ll pitch at higher levels,” Cherington said. “We anticipate, assuming that first outing goes well, we’ll take it an outing at a time and map out the rest of the schedule. We anticipate several outings, trying to approximate a Spring Training as closely as we can.
“He’s passed all the physical checks. He pitched in an extended game last week. Was up to 100 mph. He has the velocity and has been recovering well. Now he has to get back into that routine of being a pitcher and getting outs.”
Pitching plans
I also asked Cherington about Pirates pitching plans for early this week with the Cardinals in town.
Braxton Ashcraft is currently on the bereavement list and can’t return until Tuesday. Bubba Chandler is expected to start Wednesday and Paul Skenes Thursday. But the Pirates have holes to fill on Monday and Tuesday.
Cherington said the Pirates have been looking at ways to give their starting pitchers an extra day off, and the timing works out perfectly.
Sounds like a bullpen day Monday, likely featuring a lot of Wilber Dotel, then Ashcraft returns and starts on Tuesday.
What about Seth?
Seth Hernandez has pitched to a 0.53 ERA through four starts with Low-A Bradenton, allowing just four hits and striking out 32 in 17 innings.
I also asked Cherington if Hernandez might soon be headed to High-A Greensboro. He’s 19 and it’s only been four starts, but Hernandez — considered the No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline — has also been really, really good.
“The strike-throwing and command have been really encouraging,” Cherington said. “It’s been a terrific start. I would imagine if he keeps pitching like this, we’ll want to challenge him. But I’ll let our [player development staff] make that decision.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.