ATLANTA – Detroit Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe has taken a big step in his return.
The 23-year-old completed his first bullpen session Tuesday, April 28, as he continues his rehabilitation program after Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
He isn’t joining the Tigers anytime soon.
“He’s well off into the future,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. “But it’s nice to see him change his program a little bit.”
The Tigers hope Jobe will be available in August to pitch MLB innings.
Before that happens, Jobe needs to complete an abundance of bullpen sessions, several live batting practice sessions and then five or six starts on a rehab assignment. Only then will the Tigers be ready to decide whether to promote him to MLB or let him work in Triple-A.
That decision is more than three months away.
Jobe hasn’t pitched for the Tigers since May 28, 2025, the final of 10 starts in which he registered a 4.22 ERA with 27 walks (12.4% walk rate) and 39 strikeouts (17.9% strikeout rate) across 49 innings. He suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery on June 16, 2025.
Jobe made his MLB debut in September 2024.
Before his Tigers debut, Jobe struggled in two starts for Triple-A Toledo in 2024. He allowed six runs on 12 hits and five walks with seven strikeouts over nine innings in those two starts for the Mud Hens.
The Tigers selected Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Troy Melton building workload as starter
The Tigers need help in the bullpen.
But right-hander Troy Melton is building his workload as a starter – not a reliever – as he returns from right elbow inflammation. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since spring training, but on Tuesday, he completed his second live batting practice session in preparation for a rehab assignment.
Melton isn’t eligible to pitch for the Tigers until May 25.
“He’ll have a full spring training,” Hinch said.
Expect about six starts for Melton during his rehab assignment as the Tigers replicate a spring training experience. The timeline of six starts would make him ready to join the Tigers in late May.
That’s right on schedule.
Right-handed reliever Beau Brieske (left adductor strain) joined Melton in Tuesday’s live batting practice session, while Zach McKinstry (left hip/abdominal inflammation) swung in the batters box against both pitchers.
The session took place in Lakeland, Florida.
“We’re chipping away at this health thing,” Hinch said. “We’re feeling better by the update so far.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jackson Jobe throws first bullpen in return from Tommy John surgery
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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