Former Ute Outfielder To Pitch For Los Angeles Dodgers
Apr 28, 2022, 3:35 PM | Updated: 4:03 pm
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Andre Jackson #94 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
SALT LAKE CITY – Former University of Utah outfielder/pitcher Andre Jackson has been called up to the Major League roster by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After playing for the Utes in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Jackson did not play in 2017 following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. In spite of the injury, the Dodgers saw enough promise in Jackson to select him in the 12th round (370th pick) of the 2017 MLB draft.
RHP Andre Jackson, who faced Justin Turner in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium this week, was added to Class-A @greatlakesloons roster today, set for his pro debut. Dodgers drafted Jackson in the 12th round last year out of Utah. He missed 2017 season after Tommy John surgery
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) May 12, 2018
Beginning his professional career with the Dodgers Single-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons in 2018, Jackson went 1-5 with the Loons in 14 games as a starter before being sent to Arizona to continue his rehab from arm surgery.
Jackson made stints at two levels for the Dodgers in 2019 before sitting out the 2020 season. In 2021, Jackson was able to advance from single-A, through the double and triple-A levels and make his Major League debut with the Dodgers on August 16, 2021 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With nearly 50 friends and family members in the stands, Jackson struck out five Pirates across four innings while allowing two hits, four walks and no runs. He appeared in two addition games for the Dodgers in 2021, finishing with 11.2 innings pitched and a 2.31 ERA, including 10 strikeouts.
👏👏👏 @DreDayXIII #ProUtes #GoUtes https://t.co/9itNCHkfAY
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) April 28, 2022
After pitch in two spring training games with the Dodgers, Jackson was sent down to triple-A Oklahoma City to start the 2022 campaign. While there, he started three games, throwing a total of 10.2 innings and striking out seven.
As a two-way player with the University of Utah, Jackson appeared in just 12 games as a pitcher and an argument can be made that he was more effective as an outfielder for Utah than on the mound. In 20.2 innings as a hurler, Jackson allowed 21 hits, 15 earned runs while walking 13 batters. Jackson played in 89 games as an outfielder for the Utes. Batting .236 in 182 at-bats, he finished with 12 extra-base hits and 25 RBI for his career.
The Dodgers begin a three game series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles against the Detroit Tigers on Friday, April 29. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. (MST).
