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What Max Scherzer thinks about Detroit Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe after spring duel
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- What Max Scherzer thinks about Detroit Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe after spring duel
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Max Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star in his 17-year MLB career, building a Hall of Fame-worthy résumé. He also knows a thing or two about dominating on the mound for the Detroit Tigers .
On Saturday afternoon, Scherzer watched from the dugout as top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe — who projects as the Tigers' next ace — fired 3⅔ scoreless innings with one strikeout in a 5-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark.
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Scherzer, 40, started for the Blue Jays; Jobe, 22, started for the Tigers.
"Obviously, he's a guy I looked up to and watched for a long time," Jobe said of Scherzer, who completed 3⅓ scoreless innings with six strikeouts. "To be toeing the rubber against him is definitely pretty cool. In the moment, I tried not to fangirl too much. I just tried to get the job done. But definitely cool."
MORE ABOUT HIM: What Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe did this offseason to become even more unhittable
Feb. 25: Max Scherzer pitches against the Cardinals.
They're separated in age by 18 years and three days.
"He's an exciting young arm," said Scherzer, who pitched for the Tigers from 2010-14, winning the Cy Young in 2013. "You can see the 98-99 (mph). Obviously, he's got some offspeed pitches as well. I wish him the best in staying healthy."
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Scherzer didn't share any pitching advice for Jobe.
But he talked a lot about health.
"I really think that about all young guys," Scherzer said. "We got a lot of young guys that are coming into the game, but these things can all get broken. For me, looking at the young guys in the future coming in, I want them to pitch well — not only pitch well, but stay healthy."
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Jobe has already battled two injuries since the Tigers selected him No. 3 overall in the 2021 draft: a spine injury in 2023 (costing him three months) and a left hamstring strain in 2024 (sidelining him for one and a half months).
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If healthy, Jobe is projected to become one of the top pitchers in baseball.
That's why he is a frontrunner to win the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Jobe has all the pitches he needs to be successful, but he's still refining how to deploy his five-pitch mix. His fastball sits around 97 mph and touches triple digits, while his cutter, changeup and curveball all grade as above-average secondary pitches.
"Hopefully, he stays healthy and has a great career," Scherzer said.
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Durability was Scherzer's greatest weapon in his prime.
From 2009-2023, Scherzer logged more than 150 innings in 14 consecutive 162-game seasons. That stretch included an incredible six-year run of 200-plus innings from 2013-18, during which he posted a 2.81 ERA.
Maybe Scherzer could share some secrets with Jobe about staying healthy?
Think again.
"Yeah, I got the secrets," Scherzer said, "but I don't tell them."
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: What Max Scherzer thinks about Detroit Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe
