Top Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe impresses in MLB debut

Jobe was expected to need significant developmental time. Yet here he is, donning the Tigers’ uniform in the heat of a playoff race just two years after being drafted. FanGraphs projected Jobe’s debut for late 2025, making his rapid ascent even more remarkable.

Jobe’s first full minor league season in 2022 was a roller coaster of ups and downs which was followed by a setback in early 2023 due to lumbar spine inflammation. However, he rebounded impressively in 2024 while splitting time between High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. 

Over 91 2/3 innings across those three levels, Jobe compiled a 2.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts. This steady increase in innings was a key indicator of Jobe’s improving health and readiness for the next level.

The young right-hander’s repertoire is what sets him apart. His fastball (which sits at 94-97 mph) has seen a remarkable improvement in induced vertical break, with Jobe adding 18 inches since his high school days. But it’s Jobe’s slider that truly dazzles, generating an impressive 10-17 inches of horizontal movement. 

With scouting grades of 70 for his slider, 65 for his fastball and 60 for his changeup, Jobe projects as an above-average major league pitcher. His overall scouting grade of 60 (where 50 is considered major league average) puts him on the cusp of being an impact and All-Star caliber player.

“It was crazy,” Jobe told MLB.com’s Jason Beck when speaking about his debut. “I don’t even think it’s fully hit me, but it would be tough to draw it up any better than that with this crowd and the position that this team’s in. That was special for sure.”

Jobe will pitch from the bullpen for now, including in any potential postseason action, but the Tigers see him as a future starter. This approach lets Detroit carefully manage his workload while still leveraging his talent in their playoff push.

Jobe’s success challenges recent trends regarding high school pitchers selected in the first round. A study by Jackson Thomas of the Texas Rangers’ analytics department, found that only 39-of-61 first-round high school pitchers drafted between 2006 and 2015 had made their MLB debuts by the end of 2019. This data suggests teams might be better off selecting college pitchers for their higher floor and ceiling.

Jobe’s rapid development and early debut demonstrate that exceptions exist, though. If he can translate his minor league success to the majors, the Tigers may have found their ace of the future, proving that sometimes the high-risk, high-reward strategy of drafting prep arms can pay off handsomely.

As the Tigers push for a playoff spot, all eyes will be on Jobe. His performance down the stretch could be crucial not only for Detroit’s postseason hopes but also for setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting career.