Written by Ryan Patota 

Image Courtesy MLB.com

After competing last year in the playoffs and having one of the top pitchers in the majors, the Tigers are finding more talent in the starting pitching department as the next top prospect, Jackson Jobe, looks to become the next talented pitcher on the team. A star all throughout, Jobe was ready for the MLB mound from pitch one.

Before being selected as the third overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Jobe went to Heritage Hall, a college prep school in Oklahoma City. As a senior, he tossed two no-hitters with an nearly immaculate 0.13 ERA, five walks, and 122 strikeouts over 52.3 innings pitched. Jobe led the team to a state championship and earned the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year award. 

After being drafted, he began his professional career at only 19 years of age, splitting time between Single-A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan where he started 21 games and pitched a 3.84 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 2022. Jobe suffered from injuries as he dealt with a lumbar spine inflammation in 2023 and a left hamstring strain in 2024. 

However, he has been able to develop really well in the minor leagues, setting a career high with 91 2/3 innings last summer across three levels. Jobe was part of a combined no hitter at Double-A Erie, pitching six no hit innings. He debuted in the Show on Sept. 25th out of the bullpen against the Rays and made a pair of postseason appearances out of the Tigers bullpen.

Jobe pitched well in Spring Training in 2025 where he pitched a 3.65 ERA over 12.1 innings in earning him a spot in the Tigers’ starting rotation. The fifth overall ranked prospect in the MLB, Jobe made his first career start against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, and before he would even take the mound, the Tigers gave Jobe a six-run cushion to start the game. Jobe pitched four innings while giving up three runs on three hits, striking out four on 79 pitches. 

The potential that was shown in his start is that he reached 99 mph on his fastball. While the start wasn’t perfect for Jobe, it was a start that showed some promise for the Tigers. 

“I’m feeling all right,” he said after the game. “Wish I had a couple of those pitches back, but I feel like I pitched well in certain situations. We got the win, so we’ll keep rolling.” 

Jobe has the potential to become a frontline starter if he continues to develop his command and durability. The Tigers see him as a cornerstone of their future rotation and, with continued development, he can be a key piece of the Tigers’ rotation going forward.