MLB Player News

The Pirates announced that Jones underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair the UCL in his right elbow. Jones is projected to return to full competition in 10-to-12 months.

Jones will miss the rest of the season, but the positive news is that his elbow procedure wasn't a standard Tommy John surgery, which would have carried a lengthier recovery timeline. The projected 10-to-12-month recovery window from surgery still likely means that Jones will open the 2026 season on the injured list, though an April or May return to the Pittsburgh rotation could be in the cards if he experiences no snags in the recovery process. Jones should be ready to begin a throwing program by the winter, and a firmer target date for his 2026 debut will likely come into focus during spring training.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Wednesday that Kirby (shoulder) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Houston, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Kirby's third and final rehab start wasn't great from a results perspective, as he allowed four runs on 10 hits over four innings of work at Triple-A Tacoma last Friday. However, he got his fastball velocity up to 97.5 miles per hour in the outing, and the Mariners are convinced the right-hander is ready to face big-league hitters. Kirby threw 64 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he will be working with a relatively limited workload Thursday. He's been out all season while recovering from right shoulder inflammation.

Gordon could be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to rejoin the Houston rotation as soon as Sunday against the Mariners, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The Astros have a vacancy in their rotation Sunday, and Gordon and lefty Brandon Walter look to be the top two options to be called up from the minors to fill the void. Because both Gordon and Walter were optioned to Triple-A less than 15 days ago, neither of the two can be recalled unless a player is placed on the injured list in a corresponding move. Ronel Blanco (elbow) isn't slated to pitch this weekend and is getting further evaluated, so he would be the logical choice to land on the IL in order to open up a spot for Sunday's starter. Gordon has permitted six runs with a 10:2 K:BB over 9.2 frames in two starts for the Astros.

Sykora threw three perfect innings for Single-A Fredericksburg on Tuesday while striking out five.

The 21-year-old righty had a delayed start to the season as he recovered from offseason hip surgery, but Sykora has been dominant since being cleared to get back on the mound. After two appearances in the Florida Complex League in which he compiled a 14:1 K:BB through only five innings, Sykora got bumped up to Single-A and has kept rolling, producing a 0.00 ERA and 9:2 K:BB in six innings over two starts. His workload is still being monitored -- he threw only 42 pitches (29 strikes) Tuesday -- but another promotion to High-A could come quickly given the lack of a challenge Carolina League hitters are presenting him.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Jones will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday on his right elbow, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Tomczyk didn't indicate whether the upcoming procedure will be Tommy John surgery, an internal brace surgery or another kind of surgery, so Jones' status for the 2026 season won't be immediately known until more details are provided. Even if the 23-year-old righty doesn't need to miss much time to begin the 2026 season, he could struggle to immediately regain his pre-surgery velocity and command, making him a risky investment in fantasy leagues.

Morton will start for the Orioles on Friday in Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Morton pitched well after taking over for an ineffective Kyle Gibson on Saturday versus the Nationals, striking out six over 4.1 innings of one-run ball. He's yielded only two runs with a 12:2 across his last 9.1 relief innings and will now get another shot in the Orioles rotation.

Yesavage struck out 10 and gave up two runs on two hits and three walks over four innings Tuesday for High-A Vancouver.

In his High-A debut. Yesavage racked up double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time in his last six starts, and on the season he sports a 65:11 K:BB in 37.1 innings between Vancouver and Single-A Dunedin. The 21-year-old right-hander threw 44 of 73 pitches for strikes Tuesday, and his three free passes may have been an anomaly -- he hadn't issued a walk in any of his final three starts for Dunedin. If Yesavage keeps dominating Northwest League hitters, another promotion to Double-A could be coming for the 2024 first-round pick before the end of the year.

The Pirates optioned Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

As expected, Mlodzinski will head back to the minors while the Pirates open up a spot in the rotation for right-hander Mike Burrows, who was called up from Triple-A in advance of his first MLB start Thursday versus the Brewers. After winning a spot in the Opening Day rotation coming out of spring training, Mlodzinski struggled over his nine starts, going 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB in 39.2 innings. He might stay stretched out as a member of the Indianapolis rotation, but Mlodzinski could be ticketed for the bullpen the next time he receives a call-up to Pittsburgh.

The Pirates recalled Burrows from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh had been expected to wait until Thursday to make Burrows' promotion official, but he'll join the big club a day in advance of his first MLB start Thursday against the Brewers at PNC Park. He'll be joining the rotation as a replacement for righty Carmen Mlodzinski, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old righty has been a standout performer at Indianapolis this season, logging a 2.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 39:9 K:BB across 30 innings.

Blanco has been sent back to Houston to be evaluated after reporting right elbow soreness Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Blanco had been scheduled to start this weekend against the Mariners, but his status is now up in the air as he gets examined by doctors Wednesday. An update on the right-hander's condition should be available later this week.