In a stunning move, the Detroit Tigers are promoting top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe as they continue their unexpected playoff push.
Jobe, ranked as the No. 10 prospect in all of baseball on Keith Law’s latest big board, is expected to join the Tigers for their upcoming three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning Tuesday. Jobe, a starter, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen in Detroit for the time being.
The Tigers will designate right-hander Shelby Miller for assignment as the corresponding move. Miller was eligible for a $4.25 million club option after the season.
Jobe is among the best pitching prospects in the game, featuring a fastball that sits in the upper 90s and is capable of reaching triple digits. Jobe’s secondary pitches include a trademark sweeper that averaged 2,825 rpm in Triple A, as well as a cutter he added last season.
Jackson Jobe, 101 mph, 102 mph and 101 mph. 😳 pic.twitter.com/kGG3fDwPvp
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 12, 2024
Jobe posted a 1.95 ERA over 16 starts in Double-A Erie this season before earning a promotion to Triple-A Toledo on Sept. 8.
Jobe has made only two starts for Toledo. He was tagged for four earned runs over four innings in his first outing, then allowed two earned runs in five innings in his latest outing Friday.
The Tigers will enter their final six games with a one-game advantage over the Minnesota Twins in the American League’s wild-card standings. The Tigers are 26-11 in their past 37 games, overcoming playoff odds that sank to as low as 0.2 percent on Aug. 10.
Despite not being on the 40-man roster before Aug. 31, Jobe could still be eligible for the postseason via a petition to the commissioner’s office.
(Photo: Junfu Han / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
