Zachary Thomas Jackson (born May 13, 1983) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

and

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

Amateur career

Jackson was originally drafted by the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

in the 50th round (1,482nd overall) of the

2001 Major League Baseball draft The 2001 Major League Baseball draft, was held on June 5 and 6. First round selections Supplemental First Round selections Compensation Picks Background On June 1, 2001, Rolando Viera, a Cuban baseball pitcher who had recently left Cub ...

, but did not sign. He attended

Texas A&M University Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...

, and in 2003, he played

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

with the

Hyannis Mets The Hyannis Harbor Hawks, formerly the Hyannis Mets, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Harbor Hawks play ...

of the

Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over 1,000 forme ...

, where he was named a league all-star. After his junior year, Jackson was selected by the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft.

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 20, 2004, Jackson signed with the Blue Jays. He began his career with the Single-A

Auburn Doubledays The Auburn Doubledays are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) that is located in Auburn, New York. From 1958 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) ...

, posting a 5.40

ERA An era is a span of time. Era or ERA may also refer to: * Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time * Calendar era Education * Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school * ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia * E ...

in four starts. In 2005, his first full season in the Blue Jays organization, Jackson made the leap from Single-A to Triple-A. He made 27 minor league starts, posting a combined 16–8 record and a 3.92 ERA across three levels of baseball.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 7, 2005, Jackson was traded along with

Dave Bush David Thomas Bush (born November 9, 1979) is an American professional baseball coach and former pitcher who is the current assistant pitching coach for the Texas Rangers. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Milwa ...

and Gabe Gross to the

for

Lyle Overbay Lyle Stefan Overbay (born January 28, 1977) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees ...

and Ty Taubenheim. The Brewers assigned Jackson to the Triple-A

Nashville Sounds The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the ci ...

at the beginning of the 2006 season. He pitched well to start the season, and had a 3.00 ERA for the first month and a half. The Brewers called Jackson up on June 2 to help with their current pitching problems. He made his major league debut on June 4 against the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

, tossing a perfect ninth inning while striking out two in an 8–4 loss. Three days later, Jackson made his first MLB start against the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

. He pitched innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on 10 hits while walking one and striking out two in a

no decision A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports. Baseball and softball A starting pitcher who leaves a game withou ...

. Jackson filled a major void left by the injured

Tomo Ohka (born 18 March 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (–), Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2001–), Milwaukee Brewers (2005–), Toronto Blu ...

, replacing him in the starting rotation. He appeared in eight games (seven starts) with Milwaukee, going 2–2 with a 5.40 ERA. At the start of the 2007 season, Jackson was sent down to Triple-A Nashville to fine-tune his game, and he spent the entire year with the Sounds, finishing 11–10 with a 4.46 ERA in 29 games (28 starts). He finished among the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

leaders in innings pitched (, second), starts (28, tied for second), and strikeouts (123, third). Jackson began the 2008 season with Nashville, but was recalled to the majors on May 16. He appeared in two games with Milwaukee, posting a 4.91 ERA before being sent back to Nashville on May 27.

Cleveland Indians

On July 7, 2008, Jackson was part of the deal that sent

Cy Young award The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (baseball), National League (NL). The award was introduced in 1956 by Commissioner of Baseball ( ...

winner

CC Sabathia Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. (born July 21, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees. Sabathia batted and th ...

to Milwaukee for

left fielder In baseball, a left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the numbering system ...

Matt LaPorta, pitcher Rob Bryson, and

Michael Brantley Michael Charles Brantley Jr. (born May 15, 1987), is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and the Houston Astros. The son of former MLB player and hitting coach M ...

. Jackson was recalled in August 2008 to fill the starting pitcher spot vacated by

Paul Byrd Paul Gregory Byrd (born December 3, 1970), is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who is currently a TV sports broadcaster for Atlanta Braves games on Bally Sports Southeast. While pitching in Major League Baseball (MLB), ...

, who had been traded to the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. He made nine starts with Cleveland to finish the season, going 2–3 with a 5.60 ERA. Jackson spent the majority of the 2009 season with the Triple-A

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...

, posting a 4–8 record with a 6.05 ERA in 30 games (14 starts). With Cleveland, he recorded a 9.35 ERA in three games (one start) without recording a decision.

Toronto Blue Jays

On January 9, 2010, Jackson was traded back to his first team, the

, for a

player to be named later In Major League Baseball, a player to be named later (PTBNL) is an unnamed player involved in exchange or "trade" of players between teams. The terms of a trade are not finalized until a later date, most often following the conclusion of the seaso ...

. He spent the season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, finishing 2–3 with a 5.64 ERA in 35 games (five starts).

Texas Rangers

Jackson signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on January 6, 2011. He pitched two seasons for their Triple-A affiliate, the

Round Rock Express The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home ...

Kansas City Royals

On February 11, 2013, Jackson signed a minor league contract with the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

. He was converted to a reliever in the Royals system, and was 2–1 with 18 saves and a 1.38 ERA in 33 relief appearances with the Double-A

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas, Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. T ...

. He also made two scoreless appearances with the Triple-A

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...

Washington Nationals

Jackson signed a minor league contract with the

on January 17, 2014. He was released on July 27. On July 20, 2015, Jackson announced his retirement from baseball.

References

External links

Minor League Splits and situational statsZach Jackson Interview at BrewCrewBall.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Zach 1983 births Living people Milwaukee Brewers players Cleveland Indians players Louisville Cardinals baseball players Texas A&M Aggies baseball players Dunedin Blue Jays players Auburn Doubledays players New Hampshire Fisher Cats players Syracuse SkyChiefs players Nashville Sounds players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Columbus Clippers players Las Vegas 51s players Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Round Rock Express players Omaha Storm Chasers players Baseball players from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Major League Baseball pitchers Sportspeople from Greensburg, Pennsylvania Syracuse Chiefs players Yaquis de Obregón players American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Leones del Escogido players American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Harrisburg Senators players Lancaster Barnstormers players Hyannis Harbor Hawks players