DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers rookie right-hander Jackson Jobe is going on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 right flexor strain, the team announced Friday.

Jobe, ranked by The Athletic's Keith Law as MLB's No. 11 prospect before the season, surrendered three runs over 4 2/3 innings in his most recent start against the San Francisco Giants but did not speak to reporters and was not seen in the clubhouse after the outing. The Tigers closed the clubhouse to reporters, prompting concerns that Jobe could be injured. The rookie's average fastball velocity was down 1.5 mph, from 96.6 mph to 95.1 mph, in his outing. The average velocity was down on all Jobe's other offerings, too.

"He came up with some really big pitches," manager A.J. Hinch said after Jobe's start. "He didn't really cave. He didn't try to go away from the strike zone that much. But the volume of pitches are just piling up on him in a short period of time, and that's giving him trouble. Not that he can't get his outs, but it's that the hitters see every pitch he has almost every at-bat."

So far, the talented rookie has had ups and downs in his first taste of the big leagues as a starter. Jobe has a 4.22 ERA through his first 10 MLB starts, averaging 7.2 K/9. He has shown flashes of his pure talent -- his 109 Stuff+ rating ranks 13th among all MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings this season -- but also endured learning lessons. Jobe has struggled to put away hitters in two-strike counts, generated only a 14.2 percent whiff rate with his fastball and has averaged five walks per nine innings.

Jobe previously dealt with back and hamstring injuries in the minor leagues but has not previously had an arm issue.

In Jobe's place, the Tigers have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Dylan Smith. A third-round pick out of Alabama in the 2021 draft, Smith has battled arm injuries throughout his time in the minors but recently emerged as a major riser in the Tigers' system. After converting to a relief role, Smith's fastball has ticked into the upper 90s, and his slider has looked like a nasty swing-and-miss offering. Smith has a 1.80 ERA and averaged 12.2 K/9 in Double-A Erie before a recent promotion to Triple-A Toledo. He made only two appearances for Toledo before getting the call to the majors before Detroit's weekend series against the Kansas City Royals.

To make room for Smith on the 40-man roster, the Tigers made the procedural decision to place right-hander Alex Cobb -- signed on a one-year, $15 million contract this winter -- on the 60-day injured list. Cobb has slowly been recovering from right hip inflammation and is scheduled to make his first rehab start Friday evening with High-A West Michigan.