Is Detroit Tigers' Jackson Jobe eligible to pitch in 2024 postseason?
The Detroit Tigers control their own playoff destiny.
To get to the finish line, the Tigers called up right-hander Jackson Jobe from Triple-A Toledo for his MLB debut. The 22-year-old will pitch out of the bullpen as the Tigers try to secure a spot in the American League wild-card race, with six games remaining.
Jobe is the top pitching prospect in baseball.
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He posted a 2.36 ERA with 45 walks and 96 strikeouts across 91⅔ innings in 21 starts in the minor leagues, spanning three levels. He allowed six runs over nine innings in two starts for Triple-A Toledo.
READY, SET, GO: Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe already learning key lessons in Triple-A
Entering Tuesday's game, the Tigers have a one-game lead for the final AL wild-card spot ahead of three games against the Tampa Bay Rays and three games against the Chicago White Sox to finish the regular season.
Can Jackson Jobe pitch in playoffs?
Yes, Jobe is expected to be eligible for the Tigers in the postseason.
ALL IN: Tigers promote top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe for MLB debut in playoff push
Players in the organization at the end of August — even if they're not on the 40-man roster — can be added to a postseason roster via petition to the commissioner's office as a replacement for a player on the injured list who has already served the minimum amount of time required for their activation.
In this case, Jobe would be able to serve as the replacement for right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long, who has spent the entire season on the 60-day injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
That's what the happened to Arizona Diamondbacks and shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar in the 2023 season, as the Diamondbacks added Lawlar on Sept. 7 to the 40-man roster for his MLB debut. He ended up playing three games in the postseason, including one game in the 2023 World Series.
Need other examples?
Adalberto Mondesí made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 World Series, as did Alex Kirilloff with the Minnesota Twins in the 2020 AL Wild Card Series and Shane McClanahan with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 AL Division Series.
Maybe Jobe will end up pitching in the 2024 World Series for the Tigers.
Regardless, Jobe will maintain rookie eligible in the 2025 season, which means both Jobe and the Tigers could benefit from the prospect promotion incentive.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is Detroit Tigers' Jackson Jobe eligible to pitch in 2024 postseason?
