Austin Jackson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Austin Jackson |
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Jackson with the Cleveland Indians in 2017
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: February 1, 1987 Denton, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 5, 2010, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2018, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 65 | ||
| Runs batted in | 381 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Austin Jarriel Jackson, born on February 1, 1987, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was a talented center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Austin played for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets.
Before becoming a professional player, he went to Billy Ryan High School. The New York Yankees picked Austin in the 2005 MLB draft. He was later traded to the Tigers in 2009 and made his MLB debut in 2010. With the Tigers, he reached the playoffs twice. He also led the American League in hitting triples and won a Fielding Bible Award for his amazing defense in center field in 2011.
Contents
- Austin Jackson's Early Life and Sports
- Austin Jackson's Professional Baseball Career
- After His Playing Career
Austin Jackson's Early Life and Sports
Austin Jackson was recognized as a top young baseball player from a young age. In 1999, Baseball America magazine called him the best 12-year-old baseball player in the country. Three years later, they named him the best 15-year-old player.
High School Sports Achievements
Austin attended Billy Ryan High School in Denton, Texas. He was a talented athlete in both baseball and basketball.
Basketball Skills
In basketball, Austin was known as one of the best high school point guards in the nation. Athlon Sports ranked him as the #10 point guard. During his junior year, he averaged 22.5 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game.
Baseball Prowess
For baseball, Austin hit an impressive .423 batting average. He also hit five home runs and had 34 RBIs for his high school team. His team even finished as the Texas State runner-up in their division. Baseball America rated him as the 14th best high school draft prospect in the country.
Austin Jackson's Professional Baseball Career
Austin Jackson had a long and successful career in professional baseball. He played for several teams and made many memorable plays.
Starting with the New York Yankees
Austin had committed to play both baseball and basketball at Georgia Tech. However, the New York Yankees drafted him in the eighth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. To convince him to sign with them instead of going to college, the Yankees offered Austin $800,000. This was a record signing bonus for an eighth-round pick at the time.
Rising Through the Yankees System
From 2005 to 2009, Austin moved up through the Yankees' minor league teams. After a slow start, he became one of the Yankees' top young players. By 2009, Baseball America considered him the Yankees' best prospect. After the 2009 season, Austin was added to the Yankees' 40-man roster. This protected him from being picked by another team in the Rule 5 draft.
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
On December 9, 2009, Austin Jackson was traded to the Detroit Tigers. This trade was part of a big three-team deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. When he joined the Tigers, Baseball America ranked him as their third-best prospect for the 2010 season.
Major League Debut and Rookie Season
Austin made his MLB debut on April 5, 2010, against the Kansas City Royals. He got one hit in five tries. On April 25, 2010, he hit his first major league home run off Colby Lewis of the Texas Rangers. In his first month, Austin led all major league players with 36 hits. He was named the American League Rookie of the Month.
On June 2, 2010, Austin made an amazing over-the-shoulder catch against the Cleveland Indians. This catch happened in the ninth inning of Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game. Austin was named an outfielder on Baseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team. He was also on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.
Rookie of the Year Voting
On November 15, 2010, Austin finished second in the 2010 American League Rookie of the Year voting. Neftalí Feliz won the award. Austin finished his rookie season playing 151 games. He had a .293 batting average, 10 triples, 4 home runs, and 41 RBIs. He also led the AL with 170 strikeouts.
Success in 2011 and 2012
Austin was named the American League Player of the Week for August 29–September 4, 2011. During that week, he had a .529 batting average with three doubles, three triples, two home runs, five RBI, and 13 runs scored. The Tigers won five of seven games that week. In 2011, he won a Fielding Bible Award for being the best defensive center fielder in MLB. He played 153 games, batting .249 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, and an AL-leading 11 triples. In Game 6 of the 2011 ALCS, Austin hit his first career postseason home run.
On April 5, 2012, Austin was the leadoff hitter for the Tigers on Opening Day. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Austin hit a walk-off, bases-loaded single to give the Tigers a 3–2 win over the Red Sox. He played 137 games in 2012, batting .300 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, and an AL-leading 10 triples. Austin went to the postseason with the Tigers for the second year in a row. He hit a home run in Game 4 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees.
Later Years with the Tigers
Injuries limited Austin to 129 games in 2013. He batted .272 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI. On January 17, 2014, Austin and the Tigers agreed to a one-year deal worth $6 million.
Time with the Seattle Mariners
On July 31, 2014, the Tigers traded Austin to the Seattle Mariners. This was part of a big three-team trade. On May 3, 2015, Austin sprained his ankle in a game against the Houston Astros. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day.
Joining the Chicago Cubs
On August 31, 2015, the Mariners traded Austin to the Chicago Cubs. Austin finished the 2015 season having played 136 games. He stole 17 bases and had a .696 OPS.
Playing for the Chicago White Sox
On March 6, 2016, Austin signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. On August 25, the White Sox announced that Austin would miss the rest of the season. He had surgery to fix a knee injury. In 54 games, he had a .254 batting average, 18 RBI, and 12 doubles.
With the Cleveland Indians
Austin signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on January 25, 2017. The Indians added him to their main roster on March 27, 2017. On August 1, 2017, Austin made an incredible catch. He robbed Hanley Ramirez of a home run by catching the ball over the right-center field wall. He traveled about 97 feet and flipped over the wall into the Red Sox bullpen. This play was called the "play of the year" for 2017 by broadcasters and MLB.
Short Stays with Other Teams
On January 22, 2018, Austin signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants worth $6 million. On July 8, 2018, Austin was traded to the Texas Rangers. Three days later, the Rangers removed him from their roster. He was released by the Rangers on July 14.
On July 27, 2018, Austin signed a one-year contract with the New York Mets. On September 29, he hit a walk-off double in the 13th inning. This happened in David Wright's final career game, giving the Mets a 1–0 victory. Austin became a free agent after that season.
After His Playing Career
In April 2020, Austin Jackson said he was interested in returning to MLB. As of September 2021, he had not signed with an MLB team. Starting on July 7, 2021, Austin joined the Detroit Tigers Radio Network. He announced a three-game series between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers alongside Dan Dickerson.
