Detroit Tigers prospect Jackson Jobe to start professional career Sunday for Low-A Lakeland

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Tigers have officially assigned right-hander Jackson Jobe, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, to Low-A Lakeland, beginning his professional career.

Jobe is scheduled to start Sunday’s game for the Flying Tigers against the Bradenton Marauders, the Low-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, at LECOM Park in Bradenton.

The 19-year-old is expected to pitch one inning. He will build up his workload slowly throughout the early part of the season, as the Tigers limit his innings with the goals of keeping his arm healthy and allowing him to pitch into September.

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Jobe, the Tigers' top pitching prospect, missed roughly one week during minor-league spring training with the stomach bug, forcing the Tigers to shut him down and adjust his throwing program in preparation for the season.

Low-A Lakeland opened its season April 8.

As a senior for Heritage Hall High in Oklahoma City last season, Jobe posted a 9-0 record with a 0.13 ERA, five walks and 122 strikeouts over 51⅔ innings. He tossed a pair of no-hitters, led Heritage Hall to a state championship and was named Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year.

Jobe is the Tigers' No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and the No. 40 prospect in baseball.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers prospect Jackson Jobe starts pro career Sunday