Austin Jackson
Encyclopedia
Austin Jarrell Jackson is an American professional baseball
outfielder
with the Detroit Tigers
of Major League Baseball
. In 2010, Jackson made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers, finishing second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
named Jackson the best 12-year-old baseball player in the nation, and the best 15-year-old baseball player three years later.
Jackson attended Billy Ryan High School
in Denton, Texas.
, 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.
From 2005 to 2009 Jackson rose up the Yankees organization and after a slow start, he became a top prospect for the Yankees. For the 2009 season he was the Yankees top prospect according to Baseball America
.
After the 2009 season, Jackson was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft
.
as part of a three-team trade that brought Curtis Granderson
to the Yankees.
Jackson entered the 2010 season as the Tigers third-best prospect, according to Baseball America
.
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
. Through the first month of the season Jackson led the majors in hits
with 36, and was named the AL Rookie of the Month.
On June 2, 2010, against the Cleveland Indians
, Jackson made a 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
.
He was named an outfielder on Baseball Americas 2010 All-Rookie Team. He was also named an outfielder on the 2010 Topps
Major League Rookie All-Star Team
.
On November 15, 2010, Jackson came in second in the 2010 American League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Rangers closer Neftali Feliz.
Austin Jackson was named the American League Player of the Week for the week of August 29 to September 4, 2011. In receiving the award for the first time, Jackson had a .529 batting average (18 for 34) during the week with three doubles, three triples, two home runs, five runs batted in, and 13 runs scored. The Tigers went 5–2 that week to increase their lead in the American League Central Division. He won a Fielding Bible Award
in 2011 as the best fielding center fielder in MLB.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. In 2010, Jackson made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers, finishing second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
Early years
In 1999, Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
named Jackson the best 12-year-old baseball player in the nation, and the best 15-year-old baseball player three years later.
Jackson attended Billy Ryan High School
Billy Ryan High School
Billy Ryan High School is a secondary school located in east Denton, Texas. It is the second high school of the Denton Independent School District. The original building for the school was built in 1991 and was followed with an expansions in 1994, 2006, and 2008/2009 that added technology and fine...
in Denton, Texas.
Minor leagues
Though Jackson committed to play for Georgia TechGeorgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
drafted Jackson in the eighth round (259th overall) in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
. 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.
From 2005 to 2009 Jackson rose up the Yankees organization and after a slow start, he became a top prospect for the Yankees. For the 2009 season he was the Yankees top prospect according to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
After the 2009 season, Jackson was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
Detroit Tigers
On December 9, 2009 Jackson was traded to the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
as part of a three-team trade that brought Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
to the Yankees.
Jackson entered the 2010 season as the Tigers third-best prospect, according to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
He made his major league debut on April 5, 2010 against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, going one for five. He hit his first major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
on April 25, 2010, off of Colby Lewis
Colby Lewis
Colby Preston Lewis is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Lewis was originally a first-round draft choice of the Texas Rangers in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut in...
of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Through the first month of the season Jackson led the majors in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
with 36, and was named the AL Rookie of the Month.
On June 2, 2010, against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Jackson made a catch in the ninth inning of Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game
Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game
In an American League baseball game played on June 2, 2010 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga nearly became the 21st pitcher in Major League history to throw a perfect game...
. The perfect game was later ended with two outs in the ninth after a blown call by umpire Jim Joyce
Jim Joyce
James A. "Jim" Joyce III is a Major League Baseball umpire who has worked in the American League from 1987 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wears uniform number 66...
.
He was named an outfielder on Baseball Americas 2010 All-Rookie Team. He was also named an outfielder on the 2010 Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
Major League Rookie All-Star Team
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
.
On November 15, 2010, Jackson came in second in the 2010 American League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Rangers closer Neftali Feliz.
Austin Jackson was named the American League Player of the Week for the week of August 29 to September 4, 2011. In receiving the award for the first time, Jackson had a .529 batting average (18 for 34) during the week with three doubles, three triples, two home runs, five runs batted in, and 13 runs scored. The Tigers went 5–2 that week to increase their lead in the American League Central Division. He won a Fielding Bible Award
Fielding Bible Award
A Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each fielding position in Major League Baseball based on statistical analysis. John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions conduct the annual selection process...
in 2011 as the best fielding center fielder in MLB.