Template:Infobox MLB player Austin Jared Jackson (born February 1, 1987 in Denton, Texas) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers.
Early years[]
In 1999, Baseball America named Jackson the best 12-year-old baseball player in the nation, and the best 15-year-old baseball player three years later.[1]
Jackson attended Billy Ryan High School in Denton, Texas.[2]
Professional career[]
Minor leagues[]
Though Jackson committed to play for Georgia Tech, the New York Yankees drafted Jackson in the eighth round (259th overall) in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. To convince him to sign instead of attending Georgia Tech, the Yankees offered Jackson $800,000, a record signing bonus for an eighth round pick.[1]
From 2005 to 2009 Jackson rose up the Yankees organization and after a slow start, he became a top prospect for the Yankees.[3] For the 2009 season he was the Yankees top prospect according to Baseball America.[4]
After the 2009 season, Jackson was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.[5]
Detroit Tigers[]
On December 9, 2009 Jackson was traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of a three-team trade that brought Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.[6]
Jackson entered the 2010 season as the Tigers third-best prospect, according to Baseball America.[7]
He made his major league debut on April 5, 2010 against the Kansas City Royals, going one for five. He hit his first major league home run on April 25, 2010, off of Colby Lewis of the Texas Rangers.[8] Through the first month of the season Jackson led the majors in hits with 36, and was named the AL Rookie of the Month.[9]
On June 2, 2010, against the Cleveland Indians, Jackson made an outstanding catch in the ninth inning of Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game. The perfect game was later ended with two outs in the ninth after a blown call by umpire Jim Joyce.[10]
He was named an outfielder on Baseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team.[11] He was also named an outfielder on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.[12]
On November 15, 2010, Jackson came in second in the 2010 American League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Ranger closer Neftali Feliz.[13][14]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Austin Jackson: A Star Under Construction
- ↑ By Dawn Klemish / Special to MLB.com (January 1, 2010). Minor League Report: Austin Jackson. Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Jackson Earning His (Pin)stripes in HWB. Hawaiiwinterbaseball.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Manuel, John (November 10, 2008). New York Yankees top 10 prospects. Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Seven added to 40-man roster/
- ↑ By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com (January 1, 2010). Granderson joins Yanks in three-way trade. Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Glassey, Conor (January 8, 2010). Detroit Tigers top 10 prospects. Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ By Todd Wills / Special to MLB.com. Jackson jacks first home run of career. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ By Jason Beck / MLB.com. Jackson is AL Rookie of Month for April. Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Austin Jackson's catch draws raves. The Detroit News. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Eddy, Matt (October 19, 2010). Future Big League Stars Highlight All-Rookie Team. Baseball America. Retrieved on October 21, 2010.
- ↑ Valencia awarded with rookie honor. Mlb.com (November 29, 2010). Retrieved on December 11, 2010.
- ↑ Feliz wins AL Rookie of the Year Award. MLB.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
- ↑ Buster Posey, Neftali Feliz voted Rookies of the Year - ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (January 1, 2008). Retrieved on November 16, 2010.