Small Adjustments Set Up Tigers’ Jackson Jobe For Success
Entering his first big league camp, righthander Jackson Jobe had been told that he may not pitch in a Grapefruit League game.
“I got that news and was pretty bummed out and just went about my work the way I did,” Jobe said.
But plans change. The 21-year-old Jobe was called into the manager’s office to discover he would be pitching one inning of relief in the Tigers’ March 12 game.
In the appearance, Jobe threw 13 pitches, nine for strikes. He fired three fastballs that registered at 101, 102 and 101 mph.
And just like that, Jobe had everybody’s attention.
“I went out there and I really just wanted to fill up the zone,” Jobe said. “I had thrown a few live BPs on the backfield, and my velocity has been up a little bit. So I was honestly excited to get out there and almost show everyone what I got.
“I got it done and it was a blast. I am super grateful that they gave me the opportunity to do that, and it’s something I can definitely get used to, that’s for sure.”
Not that Jobe wasn’t plenty effective in 2023, when he recorded a 2.81 ERA in 16 starts with 84 strikeouts and six walks in 64 innings as he reached Double-A Erie for one start. The Tigers drafted him third overall out of high school in 2021.
Adding a cutter to his mix elevated Jobe to a new level. It was a “game-changer” that perfectly complemented his four-seam fastball, slider and changeup.
“Now it’s just fine-tuning some things,” Jobe said, “working on different sequences, setting hitters up in different ways, and trying to read swings.”
The 6-foot-2 Jobe put on about 10 pounds during his offseason training. He also made a slight mechanical adjustment.
“My glove side is a little bit higher than it was last year,” he said. “This is to try to keep my upper body as neutral as possible as I’m working down the mound to try to take some torque off my back.”
