Detroit Tigers promote top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe for MLB debut in playoff push

The Detroit Tigers have promoted right-hander Jackson Jobe, the top pitching prospect in baseball, from Triple-A Toledo for his MLB debut, as the Tigers continue their push for the postseason with six games remaining.

Jobe will pitch out of the bullpen.

The 22-year-old is expected to be eligible for the postseason, if the Tigers advance.

For that to happen, though, the Tigers need petition to the commissioner's office to add Jobe as the replacement for an injured player — such as Sawyer Gipson-Long — who has already served the minimum amount of time required for their activation.

MUST READ: Detroit Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe already learning key lessons in Triple-A

Right-handed reliever Shelby Miller, a 12-year MLB veteran, has been designated for assignment to create room for Jobe on the 28-man active roster, with only 39 players on the 40-man roster. The Tigers will make the roster moves official before Tuesday's opener of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park.

The Tigers have a one-game lead on the third and final spot in the American League wild-card race, controlling their own destiny.

Jobe is the No. 6 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, slotting in as the No. 1 pitching prospect. He also ranks as the No. 2 prospect in the Tigers' organization, behind only Max Clark (No. 5).

MORE ABOUT HIM: How Tigers' Jackson Jobe developed into top pitching prospect nearing MLB debut

The Tigers selected Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Heritage Hall High School.

In 2024, Jobe posted a 2.36 ERA with 45 walks (12% walk rate) and 96 strikeouts (25.6% strikeout rate) across 91⅔ innings in 21 starts in the minor leagues, spanning three levels. He started three games for High-A West Michigan, 16 games for Double-A Erie and two games for Triple-A Toledo.

Jobe struggled in two starts at the Triple-A level, allowing six runs on 12 hits and five walks with seven strikeouts across nine innings. He threw 83 pitches in his first start and 86 pitches in his second start.

"I didn't expect to go straight from Double-A to the big leagues," Jobe told the Free Press last week. "Like, they had mentioned that before, that (Triple-A) is an important level. And obviously what I saw the other day, it's different than Double-A, so there's gonna be more challenges for me here. ... I wish the season didn't end at the end of this week, so I could throw more, learn more. But I'll try to take as much on it as I can."

Command issues aside, Jobe has the best pitch mix when compared to all MLB prospects. He threw 40.2% four-seam fastballs, 21.9% cutters, 20.7% sweepers and 17.2% changeups in his two starts with the Mud Hens.

His fastball averages 96.5 mph.

THE MAN: Meet Jackson Jobe: MLB's top pitching prospect set to make Tigers debut

As for Miller, the Tigers will not pick up his $4.25 million club option for the 2025 season, which was attached to the one-year, $3 million contract he signed in December 2023. The 33-year-old, set to become a free agent, posted a 4.53 ERA with 13 walks and 49 strikeouts across 55⅔ innings in 51 relief appearances.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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Next up: Rays

Matchup: Tigers (82-74) vs. Tampa Bay (78-78), series opener.

First pitch: 6:40 p.m. Tuesday; Comerica Park, Detroit.

TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-0FM (97.1).

Probable pitchers: Tigers — LHP Tarik Skubal (17-8, 2.50 ERA); Rays — RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.64).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jackson Jobe promotion: Detroit Tigers call up top pitching prospect