Report: RHP Jackson Jobe, Tigers' top prospect, earns rotation spot

Right-hander Jackson Jobe, one of the top prospects in baseball, has earned a spot in the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, MLB.com reported Saturday.

Casey Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft who has to yet to fulfill his potential with the Tigers, also will be in the rotation.

MLB Pipeline ranks Jobe as the No. 5 overall prospect and the No. 2 pitching prospect, behind only Roki Sasaki of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who still qualifies as a "prospect" despite his years in Japanese professional baseball.

Jobe, 22, was taken No. 3 overall by the Tigers in the 2021 draft out of high school in Oklahoma City. In spring training, he was 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched over four starts.

In three seasons in the minors, Jobe is 11-12 with a 2.97 ERA in 58 starts with 261 strikeouts in 233 innings. He made two relief appearances with Detroit in 2024, giving up one hit in four scoreless innings.

Mize, 27, impressed this spring, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.13 ERA in five games (four starts), striking out 18 in 16 innings.

Mize made only two appearances in 2022 and sat out the 2023 season due to Tommy John and back surgeries. In parts of four major league seasons, his is 9-19 with a 4.36 ERA in 61 games (59 starts), including one complete game.

The Tigers open the season March 27 in Los Angeles against the World-Series champion Dodgers. For Detroit, American League Cy Young Award winner is set to take the mound.

--Field Level Media