Detroit Tigers reassign Jackson Jobe, four others in first round of spring training cuts

SARASOTA, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers optioned one player to Triple-A Toledo and reassigned five players to minor-league camp Friday, including pitching prospects Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden and Brant Hurter, with less than three weeks until Opening Day on March 28.

There are 54 players remaining in MLB spring training.

"The first message is the obvious, that they're not going to make our team out of camp," manager A.J. Hinch said, "and then each of their messages are a little bit different based on their circumstance."

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The Tigers optioned right-handed reliever Brendan White, a member of the 40-man roster who missed a couple of weeks with right elbow soreness, to Triple-A Toledo.

White made his MLB debut in mid-June last season, registering a 5.09 ERA across 40⅔ innings. He spent the rest of the year, spanning 37 innings in 29 appearances, with the Mud Hens.

"We really like where he's at," Hinch said. "He's just not going to factor in with the options that we have and how we're going to construct the bullpen, but he can help us in April once he gets into his season."

The Tigers also sent right-hander Garrett Hill and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to minor-league camp, along with prospects Hurter, Jobe and Madden. Those five players were non-roster invitees to big-league spring training, meaning they're not on the 40-man roster.

The trio of pitching prospects are ranked among the top 30 prospects in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline: Jobe at No. 3, Madden at No. 5 and Hurter at No. 16.

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Those six players will not break camp with the Tigers for Opening Day against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, but some of them will return to big-league camp as backup players in spring training games over the next two-plus weeks.

"The first cuts feel like it's early, but it's not," Hinch said, "We only have a couple of weeks. There will be some pretty regular discussions like that over the next few days."

For example, Jobe is scheduled to pitch Tuesday for the Tigers against the Minnesota Twins in Lakeland. The 21-year-old posted a 2.82 ERA with 11 walks and 103 strikeouts across 79⅔ innings in 20 starts last season, advancing to Double-A Erie for one start.

"I think the highlight for him was realizing that he's close but still has a lot to learn," Hinch said, "whether it's around the fine edges of pitching, controlling the running game, controlling contact, first-pitch strikes and mixing his pitches."

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Madden, 24, and Hurter, 25, are scheduled to pitch Sunday against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie. Both pitchers finished last season in Double-A Erie, winning the Eastern League championship, and should be in Triple-A Toledo's starting rotation.

Hurter, who will start Sunday's game, has thrown five scoreless innings with two walks and six strikeouts in three spring training games. Madden has been successful in spring training as well, logging 3⅔ scoreless innings with three walks and five strikeouts in two games.

"They're both very open to what they need to do to get to this level," Hinch said. "They're very driven. Hurter, in particular, his style of pitching is exactly what we preach. He controls the strike zone, commands multiple pitches, gets ahead. He's going to learn at this level, that given his command, that he can be a little bit more precise, but I love his camp and the impression that he made.

"Madden has tremendous stuff. Now, we've got to find a third pitch for him to impact left-handed hitters. They've hit him in the minors. He still continues to find ways to have success, but that development is going to need to happen for him. He's more than capable of getting major-league hitters out. Today, they're just not going to hand you right-handed hitters to face, the higher he gets into his career."

Pitching plan

Right-hander Matt Manning is scheduled to start Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Lakeland.

Hinch announced his starters for the next four games.

Hurter will start Sunday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie; right-hander Reese Olson will start Monday against the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach; right-hander Kenta Maeda will start Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins in Lakeland; right-hander Jack Flaherty will start Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater.

Left-hander Tarik Skubal, rather than pitching against the Mets, will complete a simulated game Sunday against players in the organization on the TigerTown backfields.

Medical update

Only two players are on the latest medical update: Outfielder Kerry Carpenter (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to play outfield in Saturday's game, thus removing him from the semi-weekly injury report; right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (left groin strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers send Jackson Jobe, others to minor league camp