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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) could not make his final spring training start due to right elbow discomfort. Jones then looked for a second opinion, which suggests this injury is likely serious.
However, after further evaluation, Jones did not suffer any torn ligaments and will not have to undergo an operation.
What does this recent update mean for his fantasy baseball outlook? In this piece, I will analyze the most recent injury update and determine the next steps for fantasy baseball managers.
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Jared Jones Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball
On March 25, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Jones did not suffer any torn ligaments in his elbow but will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks. While this is not encouraging news in the short term, it does leave the door open for Jones to return to the bump in a few months.
Sources: No torn ligaments, no surgery for Jared Jones. He will go six weeks without throwing. Overall encouraging news for the Pirates.
— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) March 25, 2025
Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status but should not expect him back on the mound until at least late June or early July.
Jared Jones Fantasy Baseball Outlook
Jones made his MLB debut last season and performed quite well at times. Across 121 2/3 innings, he tallied 132 punchouts and held a 4.14 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. He was very effective during the first half, posting a strong 3.56 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP over his first 91 MLB innings. During this stretch, he tallied 98 punchouts and allowed just 28 walks.
However, his ERA climbed to a much higher 5.87 in the second half, and his WHIP jumped to 1.43.
He relied primarily on two pitches, his fastball and slider. While his fastball generated a modest .438 xSLG and a .338 xwOBA, his slider was productive as it generated a strong .322 xSLG and an excellent .261 xwOBA.
His third-most-used pitch, his curveball, generated a hefty .660 xSLG and was ineffective. If Jones can fine-tune a third pitch in his arsenal, he could take the next step in his development when he returns.
While we await the return of Jared Jones THIS YEAR...
Here's all 132 of his strikeouts from 2024 pic.twitter.com/vnTfUqinEF
— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) March 26, 2025
While Jones remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Carmen Mlodzinski to open the season as the No. 5 starter. However, Mlodzinski has only started five of his 75 MLB contests, which could open the door for prospects Thomas Harrington and Bubba Chandler to earn their MLB debut.
Chandler is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the sport and is worth stashing in all standard formats. Last season, Chandler posted an impressive 1.83 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A. Across this stint, he tallied 54 punchouts.
When he makes his MLB debut, he will be viewed as a must-start option, given his high-strikeout upside.
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