Jared Jones has a UCL sprain in his right elbow, but he will not need surgery, according to the Pirates' director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk.

Tomczyk said this evening that after collaborating with Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion it was determined and supported through imaging that there was no damage to the ligament. Conservative management was recommended and Jones will not pick up a baseball for approximately six weeks.

Neither Tomczyk or Ben Cherington wanted to put a specific timeline on Jones' return with Tomczyk saying it was "to early to predict a definitive timeline." However, Cherington was optimistic that Jones would be back on the mound this season.

"It was important to get more information, both internally and externally on that. I think we have a very clear diagnosis, very clear prognosis and recommendation," Cherington said. "He (Jones) is a killer on the mound and now he’ll have to be a killer in his recovery and we feel confident that he’ll be on the mound helping us win games this year and we’re excited for that."

For now, Tomczyk said Jones will continue to have some serial imaging done and will be evaluated by the Pirates' medical staff daily. He added that as long as everything heals as they envision, Jones could begin a two-handed plyo program in about three weeks time. However, that would come after another physician's exam.

After throwing a bullpen on March 16, Jones reported elbow discomfort to the Pirates' training staff and he was immediately shut down and scratched from his final spring start. He made his last start on March 13 and a game in which he filled in for Bailey Falter, who was scratched due to "general soreness." Jones threw 64 pitches and 37 strikes through 4 1/3 innings. He only allowed three hits and struck out four while walking two. In total Jones made four starts, recorded a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings of work and struck out 17 batters.

With Jones sidelined, Derek Shelton recently named Carmen Mlodzinski as the Pirates' fifth starter. After being exclusively a reliever last season, Mlodzinski started the Grapefruit League opener this spring against the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. Afterward, he expressed his desire to become a starter to media in the visitor's clubhouse, something he has been open with the organization about since he was called up to the big leagues.

Mlodzinski made four appearances this spring and two starts. He pitched two innings or more in each outing and tallied three in his second start. He worked 9 2/3 innings, struck out eight batters and recorded a 3.72 ERA. He also threw multiple simulated games on the back fields at Pirate City and threw 60 pitches over four innings in his last outing.

"He was pretty consistent all spring. His velocity held, I think the way he took care of himself this winter, we’ve seen the breaking ball continue to get better and he kinda earned that spot," Shelton said when revealing that Mlodzinski was the fifth starter earlier this week.

However, Cherington also wasn't shy about possibly adding younger arms to the roster later this season as well. Both Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows remain on the 40-man roster after being reassigned to minor-league camp earlier this spring while Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington remain off of it. If anyone gets called up, Cherington wants it to be the right time.

"We’re focused on winning and (Jones's injury) just means there is opportunity. There are 13 guys here that we really trust and we believe that we have a lot more in Triple A that we really trust," Cherington said. "Some of those guys are on the roster already and are going to start to build up volume and be available to us if we need it early this season. Some of those guys are off the roster still and we won’t be shy about adding them if it’s the right thing for them and they are ready and it will help the team. I think for now, we want to put all of those guys in Triple A, whether they are on the roster or off the roster, in the best position to be ready to come up and help us win."

A few more highlights from Tomczyk's availability:

• Spencer Horwitz (thumb extensor) is progressing on schedule. He's started to swing a normal bat and is "making nice strides." The next step for him is to continue to build up volume and start to face live pitching with velocity. Once he feels confident with that, the Pirates will work him into games. Tomczyk said Horwitz is a couple weeks away from that. However, once he's able to do that, it shouldn't be long before he's able to make a rehab assignment.

• Johan Oviedo (right lat strain) and Dauri Moreta (Tommy John) stayed in Bradenton, Fla. to continue their progression. Oviedo is still on hold as far as being able to throw but is pain free with daily life, along with strengthening and stressing his injury. Moreta has will begin throwing live batting practice in the coming weeks and is progressing well.

• Termarr Johnson (foot) is back to full baseball activities and is playing in games back in Bradenton, Fla. Tomczyk wasn't sure if he was fully built back up but he is participating. Johnson was held out of the Pirates' Spring Breakout game against the Phillies out of an "abundance of precaution."