Jones' elbow scare, Pirates win.
Jared Jones hit in elbow during Pirates' win over Rockies, awaits full evaluation.
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Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jared Jones was struck by an 87.9 mph line drive off the right elbow in the third inning Sunday at Coors Field, forcing him out of the game. The Pirates still managed to win 8-6 over the Colorado Rockies, avoiding a three-game sweep TribLIVE.
Initial X-rays of Jones' elbow came back negative, according to NBC Sports. However, the result is especially alarming because the ball struck the same arm Jones had surgically repaired just over a year ago. A full evaluation is set for Monday in Pittsburgh.
Line Drive Strikes Jones' Recently Repaired Elbow
Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield hit the comebacker that ended Jones' day after just 45 pitches, according to TribLIVE. The ball ricocheted off Jones' elbow to third baseman Nick Gonzales, who threw to first for the out. Jones walked off visibly shaken, screaming into his glove.
Jones had "internal brace" surgery on his right elbow in May 2025 — a less invasive alternative to Tommy John surgery. Sunday was only his fifth start since returning to the active roster on May 29, 2026, per Sports Illustrated. He said medical staff told him the bone would have shattered if the ball had hit "slightly lower."
Jones Frustrated but Relieved After Scare
Jones didn't hide his feelings after the game. "It doesn't feel great, but kind of best-case scenario that nothing's too messed up," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He added that "getting hit in the elbow five starts coming off surgery kind of pisses me off."
Jones will be re-examined by team medical staff in Pittsburgh on Monday. If he lands on the injured list, the Pirates could be forced to pull from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the rotation gap, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Reynolds and Gonzales Power Pirates to 8-6 Win
After Jones exited, the Pirates' offense took over. Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales each hit home runs, with Reynolds' blast in the seventh inning giving him 11 on the season, per MLB.com. Pittsburgh finished with 13 hits total.
Relievers Yohan Ramirez, Evan Sisk, Dennis Santana, and Gregory Soto covered the final five innings. Manager Don Kelly praised the team's fight after dropping the first two games of the series to Kyle Freeland and Tomoyuki Sugano, according to the Associated Press.
Win Keeps Pirates at .500 Amid Growing Injury Concerns
The victory moved Pittsburgh to 38-38 on the season, keeping them alive in the NL Central race, per Baseball-Reference. But the injury picture is growing. Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is dealing with an elbow strain, and Oneil Cruz has hand issues.
National outlets like RotoWire and FantasyPros flagged Jones as a durability concern. This is his second major arm scare in three years. The Pirates now face a tough decision on his roster status while managing a thin rotation in a pennant race.
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