WASHINGTON, D.C. — With 22-year-old right-hander Jared Jones on the mound and 24-year-old Henry Davis expected to be behind the plate for the home opener Friday at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates are giving a glimpse of their future to fans.

Where Jones is almost half the age of Rich Hill, the 43-year-old lefty who started the home opener for the Pirates last year against the Chicago White Sox, he already carved a place in franchise history by striking out 10 batters in a dazzling major-league debut last Saturday at Miami.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Jones said. “It’s like two debuts in one year. That’s how I’m thinking about it.”

‘It’s like two debuts in one year’: Pirates rookie RHP Jared Jones excited to start home opener against Orioles on Friday in first outing at PNC Park. pic.twitter.com/bQ6jRUi5cp

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) April 4, 2024

That Davis, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, could form the battery with Jones, a 2020 second-rounder, against the Baltimore Orioles serves as proof that the Pirates’ plan to promote players they drafted and developed from within is finally coming to fruition.

“For the home opener, it’s important for us,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “These guys are going to continue to have more home openers, openers and games played at PNC, but it is an organizational win that we’re continuing to bring guys to the big leagues that we’ve drafted and developed.”

Neither Jones nor Davis was expected to be in this position when the 2023 season ended, but both took advantage of injuries to force the Pirates to make a decision with strong spring training performances.

A spot in the starting rotation opened up when Johan Oviedo had Tommy John surgery, and Jones impressed by recording 15 strikeouts while touching triple digits with his four-seam fastball and tossing 16 1/3 scoreless innings in six outings.

Where Davis played primarily right field in the majors last season, he concentrated on catcher after Endy Rodriguez was lost for the season to surgery on his right elbow. Davis posted a 1.067 OPS with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 16 Grapefruit League games. Davis is so focused on his game-planning and catching responsibilities that he wasn’t sure if he will be able to soak up the atmosphere of his first home opener.

“I hope it’s something that fans can be excited about,” Davis said. “I’m really encouraged by the direction we’re going. All signs are good.”

The best sign is Jones is embracing the honor, even though he didn’t initially understand the assignment. Jones wasn’t aware that he was lined up to start the home opener until his father texted him. A conversation with Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin confirmed the news, but Jones seemed at ease about facing the Orioles, who won 101 games to claim the AL East title last year, in his first game ever at PNC Park.

Pirates All-Star right-hander Mitch Keller, who has started on Opening Day the past two seasons, said his best advice for Jones is to channel the combination of excitement and nerves and use it to his advantage.

“I think he did a really good job in his debut of harnessing that, and I think he’ll do the exact same,” Keller said. “It’s probably gonna be a little bit more jitters this time around being at home the first time. Hopefully it’s sold out, so that’d be a really good experience for him. I’m excited to watch him again.

“It’s kind of a testament to him and how much hard work he’s put in, how good of an athlete and pitcher he is. Even just showcasing what there is to come for Pirates prospects, Pirates pitchers and starting pitchers, he’s kind of the headway of that. For him to be able to showcase the stuff in front of a home crowd is really cool.”

Jones attacks hitters with his fastball and a nasty slider, and he drew 22 swings and misses against the Marlins. He knows his stuff plays, so Jones lets it play. What bothered him most in his debut was the two-run fourth inning that started with a walk, a double and a single that spoiled any chance of a shutout.

“Obviously, you want to go out there and throw five or six shutout innings, but being able to contain that fourth (inning) blunder as much as I did, it could have gotten pretty ugly,” Jones said. “If it was me two years ago pitching, I know it would’ve gotten more ugly. I can’t complain about it at all.”

Davis, who caught Jones in the minors, has witnessed firsthand the growth in maturity. Davis remembers when Jones was 19 and would allow his emotions to derail an otherwise solid outing.

“He’s obviously a very passionate pitcher when he’s on the mound. He uses a lot of emotion to help him,” Davis said. “Every time that fire kicks up, he uses it to help him. His emotions really guide him and give him an extra boost rather than taking it off course. It’s not the anger fastball that’s at a guy’s eyes; it’s the anger fastball that’s right past him. I love it. He’s a competitor. He cares a lot. It’s a lot of fun to catch him.”

With Yasmani Grandal (plantar fasciitis) starting the season on the 10-day injured list and Jason Delay (right knee inflammation) joining him, Davis has started six of the Pirates’ first seven games.

He’s focusing so much attention to his catching that his hitting has suffered. After hitting seven homers in 62 games as a rookie — becoming the first MLB player to hit two in one game against two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani — Davis is batting .167 with two doubles. He went 0 for 4 with a sacrifice fly Thursday against the Nationals.

“I think it’s exciting for us in this clubhouse to see and exciting for the fans especially to see that, and especially when they come up and perform,” Keller said. “It’s not easy. Every time they do it, I’m just really impressed because everybody in this room has gone through their struggles. It’s impressive stuff.”

That Davis and Jones are playing together in their first home opener is something to which Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen can’t relate, given that his first home opener in April 2010 was before the arrival of the top prospects he played with in the minors.

While McCutchen warns that it’s still early for both players, he’s seen enough to be impressed by the way Davis and Jones have handled themselves individually and performed together.

“They can be really good. That’s why they’re here,” McCutchen said. “Jared did a really good job for his first outing. It’s no surprise to him or Henry, who’s played with him. When he’s good, he’s going to be able to put up numbers like that. He’s not going to do that every time — we know that — but so far, it’s been fun to watch.”

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