Today, April 16, 2024, rookie right-hander Jared Jones is scheduled for the fourth MLB start of his career. The Pirates hurler hasn’t done anything crazy thus far. 18.0 innings pitched with eight runs allowed, a 4.00 ERA. Jones’ last two starts were losses in part because he gave up two homers in each. That may sound uninspiring, but there are signs beyond the earned runs that Jared Jones may be a household name soon. Here’s why Jones is poised for greatness at the MLB level.
Jared Jones has Nasty Stuff
After three career starts, Jones has 25 strikeouts. His strikeout percentage is fifth in the majors at 34.7%. It may be early, but this is in line with what scouts projected for him. His fastball is a plus, while his slider is sharp. Getting swings and misses is not an issue for Jared Jones.
On the other side of that equation, command isn’t an issue either, as his walk percentage is also the fifth-lowest among qualified pitchers. Jones owns a 3.84 FIP on the strength of a K/BB and a K-BB% that is second among MLB pitchers right now. Once Jared Jones learns how to avoid barrels, he should be an unstoppable force.
Jones Compared to Spencer Strider
Although Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider is out for the season, people should remember that he was the favorite to win the NL Cy Young entering 2024. For good reason too, as a year ago Strider was easily MLB’s strikeout king. He also had the best FIP in the NL.
So, let’s compare an undisputed ace to a potential one. Baseball Savant sees a lot of similarities between Jared Jones so far and Spencer Strider in 2023. Both are greater than the 85th percentile in breaking run value thanks to an elite slider. Likewise, each pitcher is greater than the 90th percentile in fastball velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and extension. Jones and Strider share a struggle in avoiding barrels and inducing ground balls.
Although Strider has a lower hard-hit percentage, Jones has him beat in walk percentage because he’s 92nd percentile right now.
The Pirates may have Another One
As a rookie, there is still a lot for Jared Jones to learn before we can thrust him into the conversation with young pitchers of Pirates’ past like Gerrit Cole. However, this young man belongs at the MLB level for years to come. If he learns how to create weak contact in the rare occasions that batters don’t swing and miss, watch out. He, along with prospect Paul Skenes, could form a formidable duo at the top of Pittsburgh’s rotation.
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