The Detroit Tigers were primed for a top 3 pick in this years MLB draft. There had been talks about Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker falling to Detroit. The Tigers pipeline is filled with many pitching prospects and it seemed as if the Tigers could have gone with a position player.

Draft Time

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected C Henry Davis out of Louisville with the first pick. It seemed as if the Tigers would get their hands on Leiter or Rocker sitting at 3. Then the Texas Rangers selected Jack Leiter, the dominant pitcher out of Vanderbilt.

The Tigers then were on the clock for what seemed like longer than five minutes. Rob Manfred walked out to the stage and announced that the Tigers had selected Jackson Jobe, right handed pitcher out of Heritage Hall HS (OK). This came as a shock, especially on social media, where many fans thought Kumar Rocker was the clear pick.

High School Star

Jackson Jobe is 6’2 190lbs and is 18 years old with the highest ceiling in this years class. Jobe has great mechanics with velocity to back it up. In the past two years no high school player has gone higher than the 15th pick. Along with his fastball, Jobe has a dangerous slider and can rack up the spin rate on all of his pitches. Jobe has also shown his versatility by playing shortstop as well as playing quarterback in high school. In high school Jobe won the Oklahoma 4A state championship.

Jobe has recorded a 96 MPH fastball with fantastic control and spin rate. In Jobe’s senior season he posted a .13 ERA in 51 innings pitched. He also recorded 122 strikeouts while winning 9 games with no losses.

This pick may not be a fan favorite or even a flashy pick, but it is a pick for the future. This pick seemed to be very risky for just a right handed high school pitcher. Nothing against Jobe but he has high expectations to be called up into the majors in years to come.