Detroit Tigers injury update: Jackson Jobe making progress in return from hamstring injury
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe, one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, is making his way back from a left hamstring strain.
The 21-year-old suffered the injury May 1 on his 45th pitch of his fifth start. He took a few days off from throwing before beginning the rehabilitation process. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, the next step in his recovery.
Jobe is the No. 10 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, as well as the Tigers' No. 1 prospect.
The Tigers did not share any information about a timeline for Jobe's return to Double-A Erie, but he is expected to need a rehab assignment at the lower levels.
"I don't want to put an exact date on it, but I'll be back soon," Jobe said Monday on "The Call Up - A Prospect Podcast," when asked about his recovery. "I feel good. Everything has been going well. Just got to keep grinding for a little bit longer."
MORE ABOUT THE INJURY: Innings plan for Tigers prospect Jackson Jobe won't be impacted by hamstring injury
In 2024, Jobe owns a 2.16 ERA with 10 walks and 24 strikeouts across 16⅔ innings in five starts for Double-A Erie. (He posted a 2.82 ERA with 11 walks and 103 strikeouts across 79⅔ innings in 20 starts last season.)
The Tigers expect Jobe to throw at least 100 innings this season, his third year in the minor leagues. The Tigers selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Josue Briceño suffers PCL strain
Low-A Lakeland catcher Josue Briceño — one of the best pure hitters in the lower levels of the minor leagues — suffered a right knee injury May 5 while running the bases during a game. The 19-year-old has been diagnosed with posterior cruciate ligament strain.
The timeline for his return from the PCL strain is unclear.
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Briceño, who also plays first base, is hitting .306 with two home runs, 15 walks and 17 strikeouts in 28 games for the Flying Tigers, spanning 126 plate appearances.
Josue Briceño cracks his first home run of the season to give Lakeland a 1-0 lead. This one left his bat at 108.7 mph and traveled 363 feet. @JoePuccio_ on the call. pic.twitter.com/OaNkwQxXgh
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 14, 2024
Other notable injury updates
Right-handed reliever Wilmer Flores (right shoulder AC Joint sprain), a member of the 40-man roster, injured his shoulder May 12 and is scheduled to throw a bullpen Saturday. He has a 6.04 ERA with 19 walks and 19 strikeouts across 22⅓ innings in 13 relief appearances with Triple-A Toledo.
TO THE BULLPEN: Tigers prospect Wilmer Flores throws 99.9 mph, seeks to be 'power pitcher' again
Right-handed reliever Brendan White (right elbow inflammation), also a member of the 40-man roster, injured his elbow May 8. He began a throwing program this week. His season has been a disaster, posting an 8.53 ERA with 10 walks and five strikeouts over 6⅓ innings with Low-A Lakeland (three games), Double-A Erie (one game) and Triple-A Toledo (three games).
Right-handed reliever Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain) is throwing bullpens twice weekly. He is well on his way to beginning a rehab assignment in the near future as part of his return from Tommy John surgery. Once healthy, Pacheco will make his way into Triple-A Toledo's bullpen and could help the Tigers this season.
Infielder Carson Rucker (left shoulder labrum repair) underwent surgery this week after injuring his shoulder while sliding on the bases May 9, ending his season. He hit .385 with zero walks and five strikeouts in four games in the Florida Complex League, spanning 16 plate appearances. Four of his five hits were doubles. The Tigers selected Rucker in the fourth round, at No. 107 overall, in the 2023 draft out of high school.
Right-handed reliever Blair Calvo and outfielder TJ Hopkins also underwent left shoulder labrum surgery. Calvo suffered his injury while throwing a bullpen May 7; Hopkins suffered his injury while making a diving catch May 7. Both players have MLB experience and were placed on the full-season injured list.
#Tigers minor-league medical update:
- Jackson Jobe (left hamstring strain) to throw bullpen Saturday.
- Wilmer Flores (right shoulder AC Joint sprain) to throw bullpen Saturday.
- Josue Briceño suffers right knee PCL sprain while running bases.
- Brandan White injures elbow. pic.twitter.com/SJq2Da5D0s— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) May 24, 2024
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers injury update: Jackson Jobe making good progress