Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones was removed after six perfect innings against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night. The decision came with Jones at 77 pitches in a scoreless game. Atlanta won 3-0 after the reliever allowed a hit.
Jones, 24, was making his eighth start of the 2026 season following elbow surgery in May 2025. Manager Don Kelly removed him before the seventh inning. The move ended Pittsburgh's bid for the first combined perfect game in MLB history.
A similar situation occurred days earlier when Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Pérez, 23, was pulled after seven perfect innings against the Athletics. Manager Clayton McCullough cited a pre-set pitch limit of 90-plus one batter for the young right-hander recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2024.
MLB teams routinely prioritize long-term arm health for young, high-velocity pitchers with prior surgeries over single-game achievements. Blue Jays manager John Schneider took a different approach earlier Wednesday by letting Dylan Cease chase a no-hitter with a career-high pitch count.
