Jackson Jobe Scouting Report
Physical Description: Jobe has gained a significant amount of good mass since signing in 2021, while maintaining his fluidity and plus athleticism. He shows good balance on the mound, with a very quick arm, and he has no trouble repeating his delivery from a traditional 3/4 arm slot. He finishes square to the plate and fields his position well.
Fastball: 60
Jobe’s fastball has improved across the board over the last two seasons. It now sits in the 96-98 MPH range, and has touched triple digits in shorter stints. It boasts above-average spin rates, and Jobe adjusted the shape of the pitch to get more ride and run at the top of the zone, with an average induced vertical break of nearly 18 inches.
Slider: 65
The slider remains Jobe’s signature pitch, but he’s still making strides with his command of the offering. It sits in the 83-85 MPH range with elite spin rates, and he can alter the shape to get more depth or sweep as needed. He has begun using the slider as a front-door pitch to right-handed hitters, but he still leaves a few too many over the heart of the plate.
Changeup: 65
Arguably Jobe’s most consistent pitch, the changeup sits in the 84-86 mph range with plus fade and deception. He maintains his arm speed, is comfortable using the pitch against lefties and righties, and will double and triple up at times.
Cutter: 45
A new addition to Jobe’s arsenal in 2023, the cutter sits in the 90-94 mph range with short glove-side movement. Unlikely to be a primary pitch for him, but it gives him a fourth distinct shape and velocity to keep hitters off balance.
Command: 50
Jobe remains more of a control-over-command pitcher, but both his strike-throwing and pitch execution took steps forward in 2023 and 2024. He generally pounds the strike zone with all of his offerings, though he’s still developing his ability to locate the fastball to all quadrants. He gets chases with his slider and can also land it for strikes, but he needs to do a better job keeping it out of the heart of the plate. And he shows above-average arm-side command of both his changeup and cutter, but is still dialing in his glove-side command of both offerings.
Overall: Jackson Jobe’s development has gone about as well as the Detroit Tigers could have hoped. He’s a hard worker who understands the craft of pitching and has taken steps to improve his game. Durability remains a concern, though, with a lower-back injury sidelining him for three months in 2023, and a hamstring injury costing him six weeks in 2024. If he can stay healthy, his pure stuff and strike-throwing ability give him true frontline starter potential.
Updated 6/20/24
Rogelio Castillo