After over a year off the mound recovering from Tommy John surgery, Jackson Jobe finally made his return on Saturday, August 8 against the Giants. It’s been a wild ride since, with some absolute highs and some moments that remind you this dude is still figuring it out. Remember, he was out for nearly 15 months after TJS at the end of May 2025. This kid is picking up right where he left off, showing all the talent in the world but still with some big developmental hurdles ahead to become the consistent, swing-and-miss monster his raw stuff promises.
The Post-Surgery Rollercoaster Ride
His first start back against the Giants was flat out impressive, especially after all that time on the shelf. But then August 14 hit, and the White Sox absolutely teed off on him. That one showed us the work still needed, as hitters handled his fourseamer and weren’t biting on that power slider-curveball combo. What’s a young gun to do? He pivoted to his sinker against the Pirates on August 19, and boom, much better results. He went 5.1 innings, giving up just one earned run. This is exactly what you want to see from a guy knocking the rust off. When he first got called up in September 2024, after just two starts in Triple-A, everyone knew there was work to do. And while he’s made progress, those issues with fourseam swing and miss, plus the ineffectiveness of his high-spin breaking stuff, they’re still there.
New Arm Angle, New Velocity, Same Potential
The real test came on Tuesday when Jobe faced a dominant Rays lineup, a team that strikes out less than anyone in the league. Their only “weakness” is a minor lack of home run power, but they still put the ball in play. Jobe tossed 4.1 inefficient innings of one-run ball, which is pretty solid for that kind of matchup. It showed he’s still a work in progress who needs regular major league time with coaches Chris Fetter and Robin Lund to dial things in, but also that he’s incredibly tough to hit. The most exciting part? We saw this in his minor league rehab, and it’s carrying over: a nice post-TJ velocity bump! His fourseamer is averaging 98 mph, a full 1.5 mph faster than in 2025. Plus, his arm angle is distinctly lower. He was at 43-44 degrees in 2024-2025, and now he’s generally around a much lower angle. That’s a serious change!
This kid is still only 24 years old, and improving his pitch mix is the absolute focus if he’s going to fulfill his potential and become a frontline starter. Keep an eye on him, because every outing is a step toward that goal.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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