The Detroit Tigers’ move at the MLB Trade Deadline changed the shape of their rotation in a hurry. After dropping a series to the Baltimore Orioles, they decided they were too far out of the race and dealt ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Skubal made it clear he only wanted to be in LA, so Detroit got the deal done and sent him there for what it believed was the best package available. With his roster spot now open, the attention turns to Jackson Jobe.
Jobe hasn’t pitched since May 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he has been working his way back for a while. Manager AJ Hinch recently said he would soon be added back into the starting rotation, giving the young right-hander a chance to step into a major role.
There’s no sugarcoating what Detroit is asking of him. Jobe is still young, still carrying a lot of upside, and still short on innings in a Tigers uniform because of his age and injury. But with Skubal gone, the responsibility attached to that upside just got a lot bigger.
If things break the right way, Jobe has the kind of talent that could turn him into a superstar. The Tigers would love for him to grow into something close to what Skubal was for Detroit, especially now that Skubal is not coming back in free agency. The opportunity is there, and the expectation is that Jobe takes it.
Coming back from Tommy John surgery is never simple. It takes time, and it takes a pitcher finding his form again. For Jobe, the challenge is to come back better than ever and show why he was so highly regarded in the first place.
If he becomes what he was drafted to be, Detroit could have a strong future pairing in the rotation with Troy Melton, who has emerged as the new ace since Skubal was traded. A Jobe-Melton combo would give the Tigers a dangerous one-two punch down the line, and Hinch will be hoping to get plenty out of Jobe as soon as he’s back on the mound. So will the fans.
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