On Masters Weekend, Jackson Jobe Grabs 1st MLB Win for Detroit
On a weekend where golf takes center stage at Augusta National, the son of a former Masters golfer was making noise on a completely different kind of green.
In Detroit, while many sports fans were glued to the final rounds of the Masters, 22-year-old Jackson Jobe quietly put on a clinic against the Minnesota Twins. In just his third major league start, the Tigers’ top pitching prospect delivered six scoreless innings, earning his first big-league win in a smooth 4-0 victory.
It was the kind of debut win you dream about—sharp command, minimal traffic on the bases, and just enough run support to put it in the books. For Jobe, it was a day that felt like it was meant to be.
A Full-Circle Moment for a Family Built on Sports
Jackson Jobe isn’t just any rookie. He’s the son of Brandt Jobe, a former professional golfer who teed it up in three Masters tournaments. Jackson’s childhood was spent around manicured greens, caddy bibs, and high-stakes putts. He even walked the hallowed grounds of Augusta National in 2006, joining his dad during the Masters Par 3 Contest.
Now, almost two decades later, Jackson made his own Masters Weekend memory—only this one came from a mound, not a tee box.
Instead of reading putts, Jackson was painting corners. And instead of trailing his dad, he was leading his team.
Pitching Like a Pro
From the moment Jobe took the mound on Saturday, he looked calm, focused, and in command. He worked quickly, mixed pitches effectively, and didn’t let Minnesota get comfortable.
In six shutout innings, Jobe allowed just three baserunners—two singles and a walk. He struck out two, but more importantly, he kept hitters off balance and off the scoreboard. It wasn’t a flashy outing, but it was clinical. It was exactly the kind of start a manager hopes for from a rookie.
“I just felt locked in,” Jobe said afterward. “I wasn’t trying to do too much. Just pitch to my strengths and trust my defense.”
And trust them he did.
Relievers Slam the Door
After Jobe’s 84-pitch effort came to a close, the Tigers bullpen took over and kept the shutout intact. Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton, and John Brebbia each handled an inning of relief, keeping the Twins off the board and locking in Jobe’s first win.
It was the kind of all-around performance that gives a young starter confidence—when the team has your back and finishes what you started.
Spencer Torkelson Brings the Boom
Jobe wasn’t the only Tiger making noise. Spencer Torkelson, Detroit’s former No. 1 overall pick, had a big day at the plate—driving in three of the team’s four runs.
It started in the first inning, when Torkelson drove in Zach McKinstry with a sacrifice fly after a Twins error helped Detroit get a runner to third. Then in the fourth, he came around to score after a leadoff single and some smart base running, eventually tagging up on a sac fly by Justyn-Henry Malloy.
But the real exclamation point came in the sixth inning, when Torkelson crushed a two-run homer off reliever Kody Funderburk. It gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead—and gave Jobe some well-earned breathing room.
Twins’ Struggles Continue
For the Twins, it was another frustrating loss in what’s been a brutal start to their season. Now 4-11, they’re off to their second-worst opening stretch in franchise history.
Chris Paddack started for Minnesota and wasn’t awful—he gave up just two hits and two runs (only one earned) over five innings. But the Twins offense never gave him a chance. They couldn’t figure out Jobe, and they didn’t do much against the bullpen either.
Manager Rocco Baldelli didn’t sugarcoat it: “We’re not playing the baseball we’re capable of. We’ve got to find ways to string some wins together. Right now, we’re pressing.”
Source: Tigers’ Jackson Jobe, son of ex-pro golfer, gets 1st MLB win
Detroit on a Roll
With Saturday’s win, the Tigers improved to 9-6 and have now won seven of their last eight games. They’re playing solid, fundamental baseball. The pitching is coming together. The bats are timely. And perhaps most importantly, the team’s young core is starting to click.
Jobe’s performance added fuel to the optimism. Detroit fans have been waiting for their next homegrown ace. They might have found him.
“We’ve believed in Jackson since day one,” said manager A.J. Hinch. “What you saw today is just the beginning. He’s got the tools, the work ethic, and the poise. You can’t teach that.”
Drafted High, Delivering Early
Jobe was taken with the third overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. Known for his electric stuff—especially a wicked slider—he climbed through the minors with the kind of buzz that few pitching prospects generate.
Now, ranked as the No. 7 prospect in all of baseball by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, he’s turning hype into reality.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing—Jobe dealt with injuries and innings limits in the minors—but he’s arrived in Detroit healthy, confident, and ready to contribute.
“I’ve had this date circled for a long time,” Jobe said. “But once you’re out there, it’s just about executing. It’s the same game. Just bigger lights.”
A Win That Means More
For a rookie, every first is special—first start, first strikeout, first win. But for Jobe, this one had deeper meaning.
On the same weekend his father once competed on one of golf’s most prestigious stages, Jackson earned his place on a stage of his own. Different sport. Different arena. Same high-level performance.
It’s a storybook moment. The kind you’ll remember for a long time.
And if Jackson Jobe keeps pitching like this, it’ll be just the first chapter in a long, successful career.
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