It’s been a lean decade for Detroit Tigers fans, who haven’t seen their team reach the MLB postseason since 2014.
The organization, which has been rebuilding for years, now boasts a number of high draft picks on its roster and in its farm system. To wit, Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene already are lineup regulars.
But it was right-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 MLB draft, who stole the show Tuesday. Jobe made his Grapefruit League debut in the ninth inning against the visiting Minnesota Twins in Lakeland, Fla., and the results were impressive.
Jobe struck out two without allowing a baserunner and earned the save in a 1–0 win. He also topped 100 mph several times, evoking strong opinions from observers on social media.
Here are some of the best reactions:
Jackson Jobe, 101 mph, 102 mph and 101 mph. 😳 pic.twitter.com/kGG3fDwPvp
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 12, 2024
This is the best pitching prospect in baseball btw https://t.co/s0XEoKx4iH
— Sam Lebowitz (@SamLebo14) March 12, 2024
so if Jobe is now throwing this hard, what does Skenes do better than him exactly? https://t.co/SLsYQnwSpl
— Jarrett Seidler (@jaseidler) March 12, 2024
Dude is like lightening a bottle. https://t.co/yRPW1qAnkC
— Pat Caputo (@patcaputo98) March 12, 2024
What? He’s got gas like that?
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) March 12, 2024
Best pitching prospect in baseball if this gets taken into the regular season https://t.co/24laA2rQ8Y
Jackson Jobe. #1 overall pitching prospect. That is all. https://t.co/Sbt3QJYI17
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) March 12, 2024
I was a Skenes guy but if Jobe is healthy and pumping 100+ with outlier command/control I think it’s prudent to have him as your top pitching prospect right now https://t.co/q3WZmowaFF
— Beck (@Upper_Beck) March 12, 2024
Straight 🔥🔥🔥 from former Heritage Hall star Jackson Jobe. #OKPreps https://t.co/K0oTzoBGDk
— Jacob Unruh (@jacobunruh) March 12, 2024
Watching this a third time -- Jobe sets him up high twice and then just dots 101 at the knees to catch him looking. Absurd stuff https://t.co/2XUK4Q8UPp
— Prospect Tilt (@Prospect_Tilt) March 13, 2024
Overlay of Jackson Jobe's 85 mph SL and 101 mph FF pic.twitter.com/jg1KNITAzQ
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) March 12, 2024
