A Pittsburgh Pirates' Pitching Prospect is Making History, and it's Not Paul Skenes

While all the attention has been on when Paul Skenes will make his Major League debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, perhaps we should be focusing on rookie Jared Jones, who continued to make more and more history in another dominant start on Saturday.

Apr 23, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers Quinn Priester (left) and / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

All the focus for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the early part of 2024 has been on when ace prospect Paul Skenes will make his Major League debut.

However, perhaps we should all be focusing on ace prospect Jared Jones, who is already at the big league level - and dominating.

The 22-year-old put together another stellar start on Saturday afternoon, limiting the Colorado Rockies to no runs on one hit over innings. He walked none and struck out 10 to lower his season ERA to 2.63.

His performance also put him in multiple classes of team and league history, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

Jared Jones’ 122 swings and misses this season are the most by a pitcher in his first 7 career starts in the pitch-tracking era (2008)

prior record: Masahiro Tanaka, 113

h/t the wizard @JasonBernard_

Jared Jones’ 122 swings and misses this season are the most by a pitcher in his first 7 career starts in the pitch-tracking era (2008)

prior record: Masahiro Tanaka, 113

h/t the wizard @JasonBernard_

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 4, 2024

And there's this one...

at 22 years & 272 days old, Jared Jones is the 2nd-youngest Pirates pitcher since at least 1901 with 10+ strikeouts and no walks in a game, older than only:

6/1/76 John Candelaria: 22 y, 208 d

at 22 years & 272 days old, Jared Jones is the 2nd-youngest Pirates pitcher since at least 1901 with 10+ strikeouts and no walks in a game, older than only:

6/1/76 John Candelaria: 22 y, 208 d

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 4, 2024

And finally...

Jared Jones thru 7 starts: 52 strikeouts, 5 walks

he’s the 17th pitcher since at least 1901 with 50+ strikeouts in his first 7 career outings

HE’S THE FIRST OF THOSE WITH 50+ STRIKEOUTS AND 5 OR FEWER WALKS!

Jared Jones thru 7 starts: 52 strikeouts, 5 walks

he’s the 17th pitcher since at least 1901 with 50+ strikeouts in his first 7 career outings

HE’S THE FIRST OF THOSE WITH 50+ STRIKEOUTS AND 5 OR FEWER WALKS!

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 4, 2024

Because he hasn't played enough games yet to graduate off of it, Jones is still the No. 3 prospect in the organization. Skenes is the No. 1 prospect and is undoubtedly going to debut at some point soon. When he does, the Pirates will have an excellent young nucleus in the rotation.

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