Jared Jones

Jones suffered the same fate as many young pitchers that throw with significant velocity, as a barking elbow in mid-March ultimately led to surgery two months later. He was estimated to have a 10-to-12 month recovery timeline, suggesting that he underwent the internal brace procedure, rather than traditional Tommy John. Given the timing of the procedure, it's unclear when Jones will make his 2025 debut. However, he had made substantial progress as of mid-December, throwing from flat ground for the first time post-surgery. Prior to the injury, Jones had turned in an impressive 2024 campaign - his first in the majors - as he posted an 18.5 K-BB% across 121.2 innings. The primary blemish on his resume was his vulnerability to the long ball, as he served up 1.33 HR/9 primarily due to him surrendering a significant amount of hard contact. Jones had introduced a sinker in spring training - likely in an effort to curtail that issue-but the more pressing concern for the time being is that Jones returns to the mound and proves he's healthy. Given the difficulty of projecting when Jones will return and how effective he will be, he's best left as a late-round speculative pick early in the offseason. Things should become clearer as spring training progresses, and his draft cost could rise quickly if he appears to be on track for a return early in the new campaign. Read Past Outlooks