Detroit Tigers MLB Draft Player Profile: RHP Jackson Jobe

The team at MCB is covering the draft all month long. Be sure to check back every day for new content related to the 2021 MLB draft. Today, our series profiling the potential draft picks for the Detroit Tigers looks at Jackson Jobe, a high school, a right-hander from Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City, OK.

Jackson Jobe’s Background

Throughout much of his high school career, he was better known as a shortstop, who also happened to pitch. However, the 2020 summer showcase circuit quickly changed that. After displaying high-level stuff as a pitcher he quickly emerged as one of the more interesting arms in the prep class. As the draft has gotten closer, Jobe has as much “helium” (baseball draft term for rising prospects) as anyone and is essentially a lock for the top ten and isn’t a stretch higher than that.

Jackson Jobe’s Scouting Report

Jackson Jobe stands 6’2″ and weighs 190 pounds. His performance over the past 12 months has seen him rise to be almost universally considered the top high school pitcher available in the draft. He combines a high octane fastball, devastating slider, and promising changeup with a simple delivery which he repeats well. Jobe has a very quick arm and all of his offerings feature elite spin rates. The combination of three pitches that could all end up plus along with an average command profile gives Jobe a front of the rotation ceiling.

MLB Pipeline had this to say about Jobe’s arsenal.

“Jobe showcases a wipeout slider that sits in the low 80s with elite spin rates above 3,000 rpm, depth, and the ability to locate it where he wants. He pitches at 92-94 mph and tops out at 96 with his four-seam fastball, which also features high spin rates and riding action. He has upgraded his low-80s changeup with tumble and will use it against lefties and righties — some evaluators say it’s almost as good as his slider — and he can give hitters another look with an upper-70s curveball with a nice shape. ”

Will the Detroit Tigers draft Jackson Jobe?

As mentioned above, Jobe has as much “helium” as anyone right now, but as of early June, it seems he hasn’t quite cracked the top 3 discussions and that means other players (Mayer, Lawler, Leiter, Davis) are more likely picks for the Detroit Tigers right now. High School right-handers are considered one of the riskier demographics available and this could impact Jobe’s overall draft slot ceiling. The majority of mock drafts (and draft rankings), including the MCB Mock, believe Jobe’s current value is the middle to end of the top ten. But, with each upper 90s fastball and 3000+ spin rate slider Jobe unleashes, he seems to continue climbing the consensus draft rankings meaning he is a player for Detroit Tigers fans to monitor as the draft approaches.