Tigers' top pitching prospect continues to dazzle

While Pittsburgh Pirates rookie All-Star Paul Skenes continues to capture the imagination of baseball fans, another top pitching prospect, Jackson Jobe of the Detroit Tigers, waits in the wings. But for how long?

Already having a strong 2024 campaign, Jobe dazzled again Saturday for Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves. The 21-year-old pitched six innings of no-hit ball, posting five strikeouts while throwing 70 pitches, 49 for strikes.

Saturday's start was Jobe's sixth since returning from a hamstring injury, which kept him out for most of May and part of June. After a short rehab stay with a High-A affiliate, the Western Michigan Whitecaps, he's been sharp upon returning to Erie.

Jobe has seemingly picked up where he left off before his IL stint. But he might be pitching better than he was at the start of the season.

In his first five games with the SeaWolves, Jobe performed well, posting a 2.16 ERA with 24 strikeouts. However, he struggled a bit with command, walking 10 batters over 16.2 innings.

In his third start back with Erie, Jobe has allowed only five hits and one earned run with 21 strikeouts. Meanwhile, he's cut his walks in half, posting only five through 16 innings.

In spring training, Jobe showed similar traits to Skenes, lighting up the radar gun with triple digits. However, he's demonstrated the ability to work off his fastball with a nasty slider and a deceptive changeup, which shows serious promise for his future.

In March, Jon Morosi of MLB Network said there was " a better chance than not " that Jobe would earn a late-season call-up to the Tigers. So far, he's seemingly on track to prove that prophecy true.

Though time may not be on Jobe's side.

The talent is there, but with fewer than 200 innings pitched in the minors, the Tigers may choose the cautious approach with the right-hander. Likewise, injury is also a concern for Jobe, who, before missing roughly a month this season, was limited to only 16 starts in 2023, suffering from lumbar spine inflammation.

It's hard to see the Tigers unnecessarily pushing the 2021 third-overall pick to the majors. But, with Casey Mize on the IL and most of the rotation struggling, Detroit could use the boost.

Meanwhile, the Tigers trail the Boston Red Sox by only 5.5 games for the final wildcard spot in the American League, having won four in a row and 12 of their last 16. If they can stay in the race until September and Jobe remains healthy, anything is possible.