Detroit Tigers Sign Jackson Jobe and Izaac Pacheco

The Detroit Tigers agreed to terms with their first and second-round high school talents Jackson Jobe and Izaac Pacheco, the team announced Friday

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with third overall selection Jackson Jobe and 39th overall pick Izaac Pacheco on bonuses that will make both millionaires, according to Jim Callis and the team. Jobe, a high school pitching wonder signed for $6.9 million; slightly under the $7.2 million slot. Meanwhile, Pacheco would sign over slot: $2.75 million ($1.9 million slot value).

With Jobe, many were anticipating an under-slot deal considering they passed on prep shortstop Marcelo Mayer, who fell to the Detroit Tigers and were generally considered to be the absolute floor to be drafted. Instead, they go with the prep arm Jobe, which allowed them to turn around and go over slot on CBA 1 pick Ty Madden at 32nd overall as well as Pacheco.

Although Jobe hit over .400 in high school, the consensus suggests he will be focusing on pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization. He’s no slouch on the mound, either: a 9-0 record with an ERA under 1.00 and a slider that gets the analytics crew amped; somewhere in the 3200 rpm range, which would be head-and-shoulders above the best spin rates in the game today.

Pacheco remains the lottery ticket here, which significant power projection as a left-handed bat with some swing-and-miss in his game. A big body at 6-4, he likely plays at third base long-term, where some project him as an above-average defender long-term. There were some other options for prep infielders here, but there must have been some signability concerns with hometown favorites like Alex Mooney, who were available at this spot but never ultimately got drafted.

The Detroit Tigers do not intend to pitch some of their college arms this year, but Jobe and Pacheco figure to get some work to get their feet wet in professional baseball in 2021. It is early and things may get announced soon, but my guess would be for both to begin their pro careers in the complex league, now that Low-A is within walking distance from the renamed Gulf Coast League fields.

With strong numbers in likely shortened starts, it is conceivable to see Jobe finish the year with the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Be sure to follow our friend of the site James Chipman on Twitter, who is likely to get looks at both before the season’s end.