Detroit Tigers: Expectations for pitching prospect Jackson Jobe
This is a big year for Detroit Tigers' prospect Jackson Jobe
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe is entering an important year. After a year of getting drafted, Jobe is entering what could be a big year for the young pitcher. Not expected to start the year with the Tigers, Jobe needs to spend this upcoming year focusing on his development and not the major leagues, which will come soon enough.
Jobe, drafted by the Tigers third overall in the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft, is thought of being the next big pitcher to play for the Tigers. With past pitching prospects not exactly working out, there is expectation for Jobe to make the majors in the next few years. However, we cannot put too much pressure on the young star and let him develop at his, and the Tigers, own pace. He is a prospect that the organization sees a lot in and rushing him to the major leagues could ruin his development.
In 2022, Jobe played for both the Western Michigan Whitecaps and Lakeland Flying Tigers. He started 21 games and posted a combined record of 4-5 with a 3.84 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched. He gave up 33 earned runs, 69 hits, and 14 home runs. He has been ranking as low as #79 in Baseball America and as high as #40 by Major League Baseball.
Jobe has a bright future, as the Tigers think so by drafting him third overall. However, what should the path look like for him to be in the major leagues and be a regular starter? He should be expected to start the year with West Michigan, possibly spending most of the year there. If he does well, we could see him promoted to AAA with the Toledo Mud Hens at some point during the 2023 season.
He should not play above AAA this season. Let Jobe get his feet wet and experience some growing pains to get him used to the pro style of baseball. At AAA, he can pitch to some experienced batters and some of the brightest prospects he may see in the major leagues. If he struggles, he could learn from that experience and come back for a bigger and better 2024 season.
His baseball career, especially this early into it, will see many ups and down. He has to learn from his mistakes and make better decisions, it is all about learning to be a better pitcher. He is a star pitcher waiting to happen on a team that is not expected to do much in the seasons ahead.
If Jobe can excel at the AAA level, he may get a start or two this season in Detroit, no more no less. this season coming up is about his development. His arm is electric and his pitches do have electricity to them. He will make the Tigers sooner or later. Jobe has learning to do, and it is best that he takes it all in stride and learn the proper way to pitch.Detroit does have many talents in their pitching prospects, but none have more talent than Jobe. He ranks high on the Detroit Tigers prospect list that is not that deep at all.
Jobe is out to prove he has what it takes to be the ace of the Tiger's staff in the future. He has quality, major-league stuff but he has to learn how to itch as Major League Baseball is much different than Lakeland, Western Michigan, and Toledo. Jobe is a star in the making and has the stuff to be a top-tier pitcher. His ETA on his major league debut is not set just yet. We should enjoy watching his development as he is the future of the Tiger's pitching staff.