FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – It wasn’t expected to take long for Zach Jackson to hear his named called on day two of the Major League Baseball Draft and it didn’t.
The junior right-hander was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round, selection No. 102 overall. The first two rounds of the draft were held Thursday night.
Jackson, a Berryhill, Okla. native, struggled with command during his final season at Arkansas as he had a 5.09 ERA but struck out 66 in 53.0 innings of work. Jackson also walked 40 and allowed 47 hits but his mid-90s fastball and overpowering slider give him tremendous upside at the next level.
Jackson was named a preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger, Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association prior to the 2016 season after being selected to the first team All-SEC as a sophomore in 2015. Last season Jackson had an ERA of 2.10 and struck out 89 in 60 innings of work while allowing no more than two runs in any appearance.
