Lakeland, Fla. — At 9 a.m. Thursday, about an hour before the first pitchers group would begin throwing their bullpens for the day, Tigers new head pitching coordinator Gabe Ribas was on the back fields at Joker Marchant Stadium affixing stretch bands onto the fences, setting out weighted balls, plyo balls, Indian clubs, nets and other tools pitchers will use daily to stretch and warm up.
He also set up several different stations around the bullpen mounds. Pitchers, separated into three groups, stretched and long-tossed on the turf field, did the band work and other drills near a 10-foot blue wall erected for weighted ball drills and then threw a 30 to 40-pitch bullpen.
After that, they went through fielding drills at a smaller field, then went through a shoulder program before calling it a day.
And Ribas, whom the Tigers aren’t making available to media, hasn’t even brought out the heavy technology yet. A few pitchers Thursday morning were throwing in the stadium bullpen, helping the Tigers’ tech team calibrate the Hawkeye pitch tracker. That’s coming Sunday.
It’s a different world for pitchers these days at TigerTown.
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“Gabe is awesome,” said Tigers’ No. 3 prospect Jackson Jobe, who threw his first bullpen of the minicamp Thursday. “The energy he brings everyday is second to none. He mentioned that we would be in the video room on Sunday. I’m looking forward to diving in on more stuff.”
It was just four years ago, when pitcher Casey Mize participating in his first big-league camp. At that time, he had more experience with the new data and technology trends than most on the Tigers’ staff. Just a few months out of high school, Jobe is still new to much of it.
“It’s not been too bad,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay within myself and do what works best for me. But I know I’m going to learn a ton from Gabe and the whole staff. For now, though, just take it one day at a time and go from there.
“I am sure he will bring out all the tech on Sunday.”
Jobe, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, threw a 33-pitch bullpen Thursday, under the silent but watchful eyes of manager AJ Hinch, pitching coach Chris Fetter and general manager Al Avila. He threw in a group with fellow ’21 classmate Ty Madden (32nd overall) and 25-year-old right-hander Garrett Hill.
“Felt great,” Jobe said. “I’m happy to be here and get going. I just mostly took it nice and easy, kind of what Gabe talked about. … Fastball command felt good. The slider is there and the change-up has come a long ways this offseason. I am ready to get out there.”
Jobe and his group will throw another bullpen Sunday and then face hitters on Wednesday.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky