Jackson Jobe to undergo UCL reconstruction

The rookie right-hander was initially diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain, but apparently further investigation revealed the UCL injury.

Jackson Jobe’s injury turned out to be more serious than the initial statements from the Detroit Tigers suggested. Initially reported as a right flexor tendon strain, it emerged on Wednesday that the rookie right-hander and former top prospect will undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his season.

Jobe’s last start came against the San Francisco Giants on May 28th. The right-hander allowed three runs in 4 ²⁄₃ innings in a game the Tigers went on to win 4-3. However, Jobe’s velocity collapsed late in the outing down to the low 90’s with his fourseam fastball. The clubhouse was closed to reporters after that start, and it eventually emerged that Jobe would hit the 15-day injured list with a flexor tendon strain. Turns out the news was worse than that.

Recovery from UCL reconstruction is typically around 15 months. It’s not impossible that Jobe could return late in the 2026 season, but for now it’s probably wise to assume he won’t return to action until spring camp in 2027.

The news is unfortunate as the talented right-hander was doing a solid job and appeared to be making some strides in collecting more whiffs as he learned under the tutelage of pitching coach Chris Fetter. Jobe held a 4.22 ERA with a 5.11 FIP at the time of the injury. On the other hand, his command was still pretty shaky and beyond the mediocre amount of strikeouts, Jobe gave up too many home runs as well.

The timing for the Tigers frankly couldn’t have worked out much better. We’d much prefer that major injuries like this never happen, but Sawyer Gipson-Long has returned from his own UCL reconstruction in 2023 and looked very good so far. Scott Harris also stashed away former Astros ’ right-hander, Jose Urquidy, anticipating his return later this season. So beyond Keider Montero and potentially Brant Hurter as depth starting options, the Tigers are still in good shape, and better off with Gipson-Long right now than trying to break in a very talented but still raw rookie on innings limitations anyway, all while leading the major leagues.

Still, while we’ve become accustomed to UCL reconstructions going well, and often see pitchers return to action in better shape than they left, there are no guarantees. Jobe has a lot of gifts as a pitcher, and it’s unfortunate that he can’t continue his development. Hopefully he takes the opportunity to build up the rest of his body while his arm heals, and comes back in a better position to spot his stuff more effectively.

For now, the Tigers are in outstanding position to absorb this injury and keep right on trucking. Best wishes to Jackson for a successful recovery.