Jared Jones Update Gives Ray of Sunshine on Gloomy Pirates Day
Jared Jones' electrifying return to the mound, hitting 101.1 mph after surgery, ignites hope amidst the Pittsburgh Pirates' recent struggles.
PITTSBURGH – It was a gloomy day all the way around on an overcast Thursday at PNC Park. Well almost. The Pirates lost their fifth straight game, falling 10-5 to the St.
Louis Cardinals, who finished a sweep of the four-game series. The loss also dropped Pittsburgh’s record to 16-16, and the Pirates are now the only team in the National League Central without a winning record. The good vibes that had been surrounding the Pirates during the early portion of the season are fading, and with them goes their status as national media darlings.
The storyline of a franchise that has had 29 losing seasons in the last 33 years is no longer so intriguing. Despite these struggles, there is no sense of panic. Pirates manager Don Kelly has repeatedly praised his players for their resiliency, emphasizing that there are still 130 games left in the season.
Amidst the recent losses, one ray of light on Thursday came before the game, when Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk gave an update on right-hander Jared Jones. On Wednesday night, Jones pitched in a game for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery midway through his rookie season in 2024. Jones pitched three perfect innings against Lakeland in a Florida State League game, throwing 41 pitches.