Jackson Jobe took a real step back onto a game mound Tuesday, making his first rehab start since Tommy John surgery and giving the Tigers a look at where the right-hander stands in his comeback.
Working for Low-A Lakeland against the Dunedin Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, Jobe allowed one run on two hits over 1⅓ innings. He threw 32 pitches, 24 for strikes, and punched out one of the six batters he faced with a slider down in the zone. His four-seam fastball reached 100 mph, and after he needed six pitches in the second inning, he induced the only batter he faced into a groundout.
Jobe has been sidelined since June 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The outing marked his first rehab appearance as he works back toward the big leagues.
Ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Athletics, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, "He's ready to go and, obviously, he's been throwing the ball well,"
Jobe’s catcher for the start was Josue Briceño, the Tigers’ No. 3-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Tigers drafted Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick out of high school in the 2021 MLB Draft. He made 10 starts in his highly anticipated rookie season before the elbow surgery ended his year, and he also made his Tigers debut out of the bullpen late in the 2024 season.
The organization is expected to take its time with his rehab, making sure he’s fully prepared before he returns to the MLB level after the reconstructive procedure.
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