Jones attended
La Mirada High School in
La Mirada, California. He was drafted by the
Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the
2020 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with the Pirates rather than play
college baseball for the
Texas Longhorns. Jones made his professional debut in 2021 with the
Bradenton Marauders. Over 18 games (15 starts), he went 3–6 with a 4.64
earned run average (ERA) and 103
strikeouts over 66
innings pitched. He spent the 2022 season with the High-A
Greensboro Grasshoppers, making 26 starts and compiling a 5–7 record and 4.62 ERA with 142 strikeouts across innings pitched. Jones split the 2023 season between the Double-A
Altoona Curve and Triple-A
Indianapolis Indians. In 26 games (25 starts) for the two affiliates, he accumulated a 5–9 record and 3.85 ERA with 146 strikeouts across innings of work. For the 2023 season, Jones was named a MiLB.com Pirates Organization All-Star. On March 25, 2024, the Pirates announced that Jones had made their
Opening Day roster. He formally had his contract selected on March 28. Jones had a solid first half of the 2024 season, posting a 3.56 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 91 innings. Jones went on the 15-day
injured list on July 5 with a
lat strain, coming back to the Pirates on August 27. He was less effective in his return, with a 5.87 ERA in six starts in August and September. By March 25, it was announced that he would be sidelined for at least the first few weeks of the season after being prescribed a six-week period of rest from throwing. On May 21, it was announced that Jones had undergone season-ending surgery to repair his
ulnar collateral ligament, and would miss 10 to 12 months. Jones was placed on the 60-day disabled list to begin the 2026 season. ==References==