Pittsburgh Pirates fans, get ready—flamethrower Jared Jones is closing in on a major-league return, and the timing couldn't be better for a playoff-hungry club.

The 24-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since undergoing UCL surgery in May 2025, missing the entire 2025 season after posting a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA in 2024. But after months of rehab and building arm strength, Jones is now working his way back through the minor leagues—and his latest outing has Bucs fans buzzing.

On May 6, Jones made his second rehab start with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, tossing three innings while allowing just one earned run on five hits. The real headline? His fastball touched 100.1 mph, with an average velocity of 98.8 mph on the four-seamer. He threw 54 pitches, struck out two, and walked one—a solid step forward for a pitcher shaking off nearly a year of rust.

That performance followed an eye-opening debut in Single-A Bradenton on April 29, where Jones fired three perfect innings and punched out five batters. Back-to-back sharp outings suggest the young arm is rounding into form.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has been clear about the plan, telling MLB.com that Jones will make "several" rehab starts before rejoining the big-league club. "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."

The timing of this potential return is crucial. Pittsburgh already boasts one of the National League's top pitching staffs, ranking in the top 10 in ERA. Adding a healthy Jared Jones—who can touch triple digits and miss bats—could elevate the Pirates from playoff contender to legitimate threat.

For now, all eyes are on Jones's next rehab start. If he continues to build innings and command, Pirates fans could see him back in the black and gold sooner rather than later. And for a team looking to make noise in 2026, that's a very welcome development.