Position: RHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 08/06/2001
High School: La Mirada (CA) HS
How Acquired: Draft 2nd Round, 44th Overall, 2020
Bonus: $2,200,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 3
Overview
Jones is an exceptional athlete who pitched and played outfield in high school. He has great arm speed that generates a mid- to upper-90s fastball, and he holds the velocity well into outings. He pitches effectively up in the zone, but it has led to some gopher ball trouble so far. He also has a potential plus slider and curve, and a developing change. The slider presently is his best secondary pitch, and it’s a strong plus pitch. Jones doesn’t have great size and throws with some effort, so there could be some question going forward about whether he’ll be a starter. The Pirates, though, are trying to develop him that way and his athleticism gives him a good chance of remaining a starter if his command continues to develop. Baseball America rated him 41st among draft prospects, which is exactly where the Pirates selected him. He had a commitment to Texas, but signed for well above the slot amount of $1,689,500.
2020-22
Jones didn’t pitch during the pandemic season, then went to Bradenton in May of 2021. He showed electric stuff, as the 14.0 K/9 implies. His fastball at times sat at 96-97 mph. He had stretches where he was nearly unhittable, such as one four-inning start in which he fanned 11. Jones also had stretches when his command faltered and he walked too many, then got hit when he had to get too much of the plate, hence the 4.64 ERA. For some reason, Jones was much tougher against left-handed batters, holding them to a .570 OPS, compared to .856 for right-handed batters.
In 2022, Jones had an uneven season. On the plus side, he made 26 starts and nearly doubled his innings total from the previous year. His K and walk rates were good, at 10.4 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9. On the negative side, he got hit a little harder than you’d hope for a guy with his stuff. Opponents slugged .413 against him in a league where the average was .391. He also gave up 19 home runs, leading to a 4.62 ERA.
2023-24
In 2023, Jones started to pitch like the guy the Pirates had been hoping to see. In ten starts for Altoona, he had 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. The Pirates moved him up to Indianapolis and he pitched more like he had in 2021-22, i.e., showing the great stuff, but also inconsistent. He had a 4.72 ERA, but a 3.7 BB/9 and 10.9 K/9. Jones finished the season strongly, holding opponents to a .561 OPS in four September starts. He turned 22 a month before the end of the season.
Jones impressed during spring training 2024 and, in something of a surprise, made the opening day roster. He seemed almost unhittable in the early season, except for some trouble with gopher balls. He eventually had some rough starts, but at the beginning of June he had a 3.65 ERA. At that point, he went on the injured list with a lat strain. After rehabbing at Indianapolis, he returned at the end of August and scuffled at times over his last six starts, with a 5.87 ERA, leaving him at 4.14 for the season. He had a 1.19 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9. The longball was an issue, as Jones allowed about one every six and a half innings. He had no platoon split. The injury mooted concerns about whether Jones would have to be shut down or restricted at some point to keep his workload from increasing too much over 2023. He finished with 121.2 IP in 22 starts.
Stats
Transactions
June 11, 2020: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round, 44th overall pick; signed on July 2.
March 25, 2024: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.