In The System: 'Fiery' Jones rises to top 100 prospect status

CHICAGO -- Luis Ortiz is 6 1/3 major-league innings away from losing his prospect status and, consequentially, his rookie status. When that happens, someone will need to inherit the title of the Pirates' "top pitching prospect."

And if you were wondering who that might be, Baseball America has picked their guy: Jared Jones.

The 2020 second-round pick has risen to top 100 status, ranking at No. 89 on the publication's update this week. It's a feather in Jones' hat, but he's not giving it too much thought. He'll probably get more attention as the Pirates' top pitching prospect, but that isn't flinching him either.

“I feel like it’s been like that for a while," Jones told me over the phone this weekend about having more eyes on him. "Just because it’s more eyes at the higher stages, it doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything different.”

Jones certainly has pitched his way into top prospect status. He's recorded a 2.21ERA with a 0.98 WHIP and 42 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings for Class AA Altoona, never allowing more than two earned runs in a start at this level. He's always had stuff, featuring an upper-90s fastball and a high spin breaking ball that can get up to 2,600 RPM. This year, he's making that jump from a self-described "thrower" to a pitcher.

There are two keys to him making that leap. The first is honing in his emotions on the mound, and if you ask his catcher, that's the key.

"He’s an incredible competitor, a fiery guy," Henry Davis told me in a conversation last month. "I think learning to use that to his advantage has made him a completely different pitcher. The stuff was always there, but to see him put it together has been really great.”

Before Davis was promoted to Class AAA Indianapolis, he had a knack for getting that fiery version of Jones to show up: He would try to agitate him during mound visits.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s angry that where I’m p---- off on the mound," Jones said. "Just that ‘F you’ attitude, that’s how I like to say it more. I’m going to throw whatever I have with total conviction, and you’re not going to touch it. That’s how I view myself on the mound, and if you do touch it, then I just need to throw a better pitch.”

The second is learning how to use that stuff. The breaking ball was a bit of a problem for him last year and a contributor to a walk and home run problem he had. He has two high spin offerings in the slider and the curve, but he had trouble separating them. When the slider got too curve-y, hitters were able to make contact.

This winter, he focused on the slider's velocity. He discovered that if he keeps it up around 85 mph, he'll get the gyro spin on it that he's searching for and have two distinct breaking balls. Pair that with a high-90s fastball at the top of the zone and he has a legitimate arsenal with multiple plus-pitches.

"It's just a matter of experience, a matter of learning himself," pitching coach Cale Johnson said. "Continuing to be more consistent. The stuff is really, really good, and I think he's starting to figure out he doesn't necessarily have to make pitches better in certain situations. It's just about throwing the good one over and over."

If he continues to do that, Jones will continue to rise up prospects boards. But as that happens, his focus is on staying steady.

“[I want to] maintain where I am right now," Jones said. "I feel like where I am right now is a really good spot, and if I can do that for a full season, that’s a pretty good year.”

WHO IS HOT?

AAA Indianapolis: Endy Rodríguez is hitting .372 with an .891 OPS and six RBIs during his current 10-game hitting streak. Despite a bit of a slow start out of the gate, Rodríguez still ranks as the No. 21 prospect in all of baseball after Baseball America's update this week.

AA Altoona: Right-hander Travis MacGregor has recorded a 1.29 ERA and 27 strikeouts over his last 10 outings, which have totaled 21 innings. start)...MacGregor struck out three straight hitters in the bottom of the ninth inning and stranded the tying run placed at second in the 10th to secure the win Sunday against Richmond. He leads all Eastern League relievers with 43 strikeouts this season.

A+ Greensboro: Left-hander Anthony Solometo has allowed just one run -- which was unearned -- over his last four starts. Over his last seven starts, the 2021 second-round southpaw has recorded a 1.43 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 42 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings. He and the recently promoted Thomas Harrington could prove to be quite the 1-2 punch, as Harrington tossed seven shutout innings in his second start for the Grasshoppers last week.

A- Bradenton: Third baseman Jack Brannigan, the team's third-round pick last year, has caught fire of late, homering five times over his last seven games. He's also reached base safely in 14 straight contests and is a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts this year.

SOMETHING TO WATCH

Henry Davis went from No. 73 to No. 35 in Baseball America's update, proof that most of the concern around him as far as prospect rankings was health related.

Davis played three games in right field and as a catcher, keeping true to the 50-50 split that was originally planned for him and Rodríguez. So how is right field coming along?

“Henry’s going to put 130% effort into anything he does," Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show Sunday. "If right field is something he needs to conquer, he’ll conquer that. He’s already looking comfortable out there. He runs pretty well for his size. Obviously he’s got arm strength. He’s smart. He’s already made some good plays. Right field won’t be an issue for him. Again, as we’ve said before, catching is the priority for both guys.”

INJURY NEWS

Right-hander Colin Selby (shoulder) threw a live batting practice in Indianapolis Friday. The next progression is likely he'll get back into some type of game activity. Malcom Nuñez (shoulder) is most likely going to have his rehab transferred to Florida, as the focus is more on rehab rather than competition. Outfielder Lonnie White Jr. (thumb) has returned to action in the Gulf Coast League.

CLIP OF THE WEEK

Termarr Johnson launched his third home run of the week Sunday -- his 19th birthday -- but the real highlight of the game was this catch in foul ground:

TOP 5 HITTERS, BASEBALL AMERICA

C Endy Rodríguez (AAA): 201 PA, .251/.338/.394, 4 HR, 19 RBI

INF Termarr Johnson (A-): 155 PA, .240/.406/.364, 3 HR, 18 RBI

C Henry Davis (AA-AAA): 210 PA, .279/.431/.527, 10 HR, 28 RBI

INF Liover Peguero (AA): 236 PA, .270/.343/.431, 6 HR, 28 RBI

INF Nick Gonzales (AAA): 222 PA, .247/.347/.426, 6 HR, 22 RBI

TOP 5 PITCHERS, BASEBALL AMERICA

RHP Luis Ortiz (AAA): 2-1, 2.23 ERA, 29 K, 32 1/3 IP in minors (currently with MLB team)

RHP Quinn Priester (AAA): 6-3, 4.63 ERA, 57 K, 56 1/3 IP

RHP Bubba Chandler (A+): 2-2, 6.91 ERA, 51 K, 41 2/3 IP

RHP Thomas Harrington (A-/A+): 4-1, 2.79 ERA, 52 K, 48 1/3 IP

LHP Anthony Solometo (A+): 2-3, 2.30 ERA, 68 K, 58 2/3 IP