Detroit Tigers promote Jackson Jobe to Triple-A Toledo, opening door for 2025 MLB debut

Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe needs to pitch in Triple-A Toledo before making his MLB debut .

Turns out, the Tigers have promoted Jobe — a hard-throwing, high-spin right-hander — to Triple-A Toledo to finish his third full season in the minor leagues. The promotion opens the door for Jobe to make the 2025 Opening Day roster.

Jobe is expected to make two starts with the Mud Hens before the season ends Sept. 22.

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In 2024, Jobe has posted a 1.96 ERA with 40 walks and 89 strikeouts across 82⅔ innings in 19 starts with High-A West Michigan (three starts) and Double-A Erie (16 starts). He ranks as the No. 2 prospect in the Tigers' farm system, according to MLB Pipeline , but he is the No. 1 pitching prospect and the No. 7 overall prospect in baseball.

For the SeaWolves, Jobe logged a 1.95 ERA with 38 walks (12.7% walk rate) and 81 strikeouts (27.1% strikeout rate) over 73⅔ innings.

Jobe pitched into the seventh inning — and completed the seventh inning — for the first time in his professional career in his final Double-A start, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings, throwing 90 pitches.

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The third season for Jobe has featured a second injury in his young career, as he missed two months — including three rehab starts in West Michigan — with a left hamstring strain . (He also suffered a lower spine injury at the beginning of the 2023 season.)

As for the hamstring injury, Jobe returned to Double-A Erie on July 5, but in 11 starts, he has limited hits — opponents hit just .176 — while issuing free passes at a 12.1% rate, with 28 walks in 57 innings. He walked at least three batters in six of those 11 starts.

The walks have been an issue, but there's no denying Jobe's talent.

Jobe has the potential to be an ace in the big leagues.

His fastball sits around 97 mph, accompanied by a slider, changeup and cutter. His slider and changeup are the best secondary pitches in his mix, while using his cutter as a hybrid between the fastball and slider.

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

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

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers promote Jackson Jobe to Triple-A Toledo, opening door for 2025 MLB debut