What Jared Jones is doing right now is special.
You don’t normally see a rookie arrive in the majors and look like one of the best players in the game. Through six starts, Jones has a 3.18 ERA, led by a 42:5 K/BB ratio. He’s had just one outing with an ERA over 5, which was his most recent start where he allowed three runs in five innings.
The downside for Jones is that his Rookie of the Year case will see him competing against Cubs 30-year-old rookie Shota Imanaga, who led Nippon Professional Baseball in strikeouts last year. Imanaga has an 0.98 ERA in 27.2 innings this season. While Jones will have competition for Rookie of the Year, it’s a testament that his competition is someone with years of professional experience, even in another league.
What stands out the most about Jones is his strikeout rate. He ranks sixth overall in K% at 31.8. His whiff rate of 37.5% ranks first in the majors. What’s impressive about that is he also ranks first in swing percentage. Not only is Jones inducing a lot of swings, but he’s also inducing a lot of misses.
THIS WEEK ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
This week’s featured column for Patreon subscribers looks at the below-average offense of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the idea of replacing hitting coach Andy Haines as a solution.
**Williams: The Pirates Are Severely Lacking on Offense
Jared Jones has been putting up better numbers than any Pirates rookie I can remember for decades. I looked at the early results from the right-hander, who is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
**Jared Jones is Having a Special Start to His MLB Career – READING
The Pirates drafted Henry Davis first overall in 2021, with hopes of getting a power hitting catcher. He’s not hitting for power this year, and grades below-average behind the plate, which might necessitate a change.
**Henry Davis Has Questions on Both Sides of His Game
Paul Skenes is schedule for a two-start week this week, for the first time in his pro career. As the top prospect gets to a regular workload, I look at when he might arrive in the Majors, and how many innings he might throw.
**When Will Paul Skenes Arrive in the Majors?
The Pirates went with Jared Triolo as their starting second baseman out of Spring Training, which was a move that was deserved. After his early results, and early results from Nick Gonzales in Triple-A, they might need to make a change.
**Jared Triolo Looks Like a Major Leaguer, But Not a Starter
Depth is going to be crucial for the 2024 Pirates to have a winning season. They’ve already seen a few players step up to contribute in the Majors. I looked at five depth options who have excelled this year, led by RHP Hunter Stratton.
**Five Depth Options Who Have Excelled For the 2024 Pirates
