Another one bites the dust for the Detroit Tigers! For a team that’s currently standing atop the AL Central with a 44-24 record, even the smallest of setbacks can leave a hole in their World Championship aspirations. Alex Cobb and Alex Lange have already been on the sidelines nursing right hip and upper arm inflammation, respectively. Now, for a rookie who aspires to make it big in the major league, the season has probably ended.
We are talking about the Tigers’ right-handed pitcher, Jackson Jobe. The 22-year-old, who made his debut last season, is currently battling a right flexor strain. The last time he pitched for the Tigers was against the San Francisco Giants, where he mentioned a discomfort in his elbow. Eventually, he got placed on the injured list for 15 days. But then came the news that many wouldn’t have expected.
At this stage of the season, where the scope for errors is minimal, the Tigers have landed themselves in big trouble. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Jackson Jobe is “out for the season.” He will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Tough blow for the Tigers young pitcher pic.twitter.com/8FSik8ljlY
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 11, 2025
The official confirmation came later from the Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg “As is standard medical evaluation process, we sought additional evaluations,” Greenberg said. “Through that evaluation process, the UCL injury was also discovered. From there, there were a series of conversations between Jackson, the doctors and the medical staff. And ultimately, surgery was determined as the path.”
Jobe went with an ERA of 4.22 this season, striking out 39 batters with a 49.0 IP and 1.49 WHIP this season. His injury is a big blow for the Tigers!
As we know, any kind of surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) requires a minimum of 12 to 18 months for full recovery. Fair to say he probably won’t be featuring for the Tigers for the remainder of this season.
Jobe’s presence was vital, considering he was positioned as one of the top starters, complementing Tarik Skubal. With him being on the sidelines now, Detroit’s hopes of making it to the playoffs may dwindle.
Now that the Tigers are forced to revamp their pitching strategy, what’s in line?
What lies ahead for the Tigers post Jobe’s injury
The path to recovery after the Tommy John surgery will be tough for Jackson Jobe. The Detroit Tigers management, his teammates, and the fans will surely continue to lend their support all throughout, but it will be taxing for Jobe, both mentally and physically.
But, for the Tigers right now, the main focus is on the job in hand. So, what can be done to fill the gap? Well, reinforcements are on the way. The right-handed pitcher, Sawyer Gipson-Long, may turn out to be a suitable replacement for Jackson Jobe. Manager AJ Hinch remains optimistic about Sawyer, considering what he has done to date.
“He’s really the only candidate of the guys you mentioned that would be under consideration,” Hinch said.
Sawyer Gipson-Long, recovering from the surgery to his right elbow and left hip, has been sweating it out in the rehab for quite some time. The good news is that he has already made five starts in his rehab assignment and has thrown more than 50 pitches.
Given that he has been a constant work in progress, Hinch may not hold him back anymore.
Moreover, the Tigers’ other starters, Jose Urquidy and Reese Olson, have also started throwing in the bullpen sessions. So, despite the heartbreaking setback, the team will be hoping to bounce back with the right reinforcements.
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