| Luke Jackson | |
|---|---|
_(Cropped).jpg) Jackson with theAtlanta Braves in 2018 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-08-24)August 24, 1991 (age 34) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 2015, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 24–16 |
| Earned run average | 4.22 |
| Strikeouts | 424 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Luke Ray Jackson (born August 24, 1991) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theAtlanta Braves,San Francisco Giants,Texas Rangers,Detroit Tigers, andSeattle Mariners. He was drafted by the Rangers in the first round, 45th overall, of the2010 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2015.
Jackson attendedCalvary Christian Academy inFort Lauderdale, Florida. As a senior, he went 8–0 with an 0.90earned run average (ERA) in54+2⁄3innings pitched with 87strikeouts for the baseball team. He graduated in 2010.[1][2][3]
TheTexas Rangers drafted Jackson in the first round, with the 45th overall selection of the2010 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5] He signed with the Rangers for asigning bonus of $1.545 million, forgoing his commitment to playcollege baseball at theUniversity of Miami.[6][7] He made his professional debut in 2011 for theHickory Crawdads, going 5–6 with a 5.64 ERA.[8]
Jackson started 2012 with Hickory and was promoted to the High-AMyrtle Beach Pelicans in June. For the two teams, he was 10–7 with a 4.65 ERA with 146 strikeouts, the second-most among Rangers minor leaguers, in 129.2 innings, and had 10.1 strikeouts per 9 innings.[2][9]
He started 2013 back with Myrtle Beach.[10] He was named aCarolina League Mid-Season All-Star.[11] Jackson was promoted to the Double-AFrisco RoughRiders during the season.[12][13] Between the two teams, he was 11–4 with a 2.04 ERA (the 8th-lowest ERA among all full season minor league pitchers) and 134 strikeouts in 25 games (23 starts) and 128 innings.[9][2] Batters hit .202 against him, the 7th-lowest batting-average-against among all full season pitchers.[2] After the season, he was named theNolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and an MiLB organization All Star.[11]Baseball America rated him the ninth-best prospect in the Carolina League.[2]
Jackson started 2014 back with Frisco.[14][15][16] He was named aTexas League Mid-Season All-Star.[11] He was later promoted to Triple-ARound Rock Express. His aggregate 126 strikeouts were third-most among Texas minor league pitchers.[2]
In 2015, Jackson started the season with Round Rock. He converted to thebullpen in May, after having started 97 of his first 101 professional games.[2] He was called up to the majors for the first time on August 6, 2015.[17] However, he was sent back down to Round Rock on August 11, before making an appearance with the Rangers, making him aphantom ballplayer.[18]
The Rangers again promoted Jackson to the major leagues on September 1.[19] His MLB debut on September 4 went poorly: he allowed an RBI double toC. J. Cron of theLos Angeles Angels inAnaheim, giving up 2 runs and getting 2 outs.[20] In 2015 with Texas, Jackson earned no decisions, had a 4.26 ERA in6+2⁄3 innings, and his fastball velocity of 96.8 miles per hour was in the top 5% in baseball.[21]
Jackson split the 2016 season between the Rangers (he had a 10.80 ERA in11+2⁄3 innings in 8 games), the 15-daydisabled list (back stiffness), and the minors (with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock; he was 1–1 with three saves and a 3.69 ERA in46+1⁄3 innings over 36 relief appearances).[2]
On December 8, 2016, the Rangers traded Jackson to theAtlanta Braves for pitchersTyrell Jenkins andBrady Feigl.[22]
In 2017 in the majors, Jackson was 2–0 with a 4.62 ERA in50+2⁄3 innings over 43 relief appearances. Batters had a 41.5% hard-hit percentage against him, in the highest 2% in baseball.[21] Jackson wasdesignated for assignment on December 20, 2017.[23]
Jackson had his contract purchased by Atlanta on April 4, 2018, but he was designated for assignment a second time on April 15.[24] He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-AGwinnett Stripers. He had his contract purchased again on May 6, then was again removed from the roster two days later. On June 5, he was called up once again. Jackson was later designated for assignment once more on June 13.[25] He was called up once again on June 17. With Gwinnett in 2018, he was 2–1 with a 1.69 ERA across21+1⁄3 innings in which he struck out 34 batters in 10 games (one start).[9] With Atlanta, he was 1–2 with a 4.43 ERA and onesave in40+2⁄3 innings, striking out 46 batters.[9] In 2018, he stopped throwing achangeup, threw a lower percentage of four-seam fastballs and curveballs, and began to throw his slider more.[26]
In 2019, Jackson served as the team'scloser for much of the first half of the season.[27] He was 9–2 with a career-high 18 saves, a 3.84 ERA, and 106 strikeouts in72+2⁄3 innings over 70 relief appearances.[28] Jackson induced a 60.5% ground ball percentage, the third-highest in baseball (minimum 70 innings).[2] He induced a chase rate of 35.1%, in the best 4% in baseball, and a whiff percentage of 36.7%, in the best 3% of baseball.[21]
In 2020, he was 2–0 with a 6.84 ERA in26+1⁄3 innings over 19 relief appearances.[28] He had a barrel percentage against of 3.1, in the best 5% in baseball.[21]
In 2021, Jackson was 2–2 with a 1.98 ERA and 70 strikeouts in63+2⁄3 innings in 71 games (sixth-most in the NL).[29] His 31holds ranked second in the major leagues.[28] Between 2015 and 2021, he relied mostly on his 88 mphground ball-inducingslider and 96 mphfour-seam fastball, also throwing an 85 mphcurveball.[30] He won a championship that year as Atlanta won theWorld Series in six games.
In early April 2022, the Braves disclosed thatmagnetic resonance imaging had revealed damage to theulnar collateral ligament of Jackson's right elbow.[31][32] He underwent successfulTommy John surgery on that elbow on April 13.[33] In May, Jackson lost his arbitration case, receiving a $3.6 million salary for the 2022 season.[34] He missed the 2022 season due to injury.[33]
On January 9, 2023, Jackson signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with theSan Francisco Giants, with a club option for 2025.[35][36] He would earn $3 million in 2023, and $6.5 million in 2024. The Giants had an option for $7 million for 2025, with a $2 million buyout if declined.[37] After rehab stints with the Single-ASan Jose Giants and Triple-ASacramento River Cats, Jackson was activated from the injured list on May 30.[38][39][40] He debuted with the Giants the next night, his first appearance in the majors since the 2021 World Series. He was 2–2 with two blown saves in 33 games, with a 2.97 ERA and 43 strikeouts in33+1⁄3 innings.[41]
Jackson started the 2024 season with a 4–2 record, 5.40 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 35 innings.[28]
On July 29, 2024, the Giants traded Jackson andJorge Soler to the Atlanta Braves in exchange forTyler Matzek and Sabin Ceballos.[42][43] At the end of the season, the Braves declined the option on Jackson's contract, making him a free agent.[44]
On February 17, 2025, Jackson signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with theTexas Rangers.[45] He was the team's closer early in the season.[46] In 39 appearances for the Rangers, he had a 2–5 record and 4.11 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 9 saves over 35 innings of work. Jackson was designated for assignment by Texas on July 23.[47] He was released by the team the following day.[48]
On July 26, 2025, Jackson signed a one-year, major league contract with theDetroit Tigers for a prorated portion of the major league minimum salary. The Rangers were still responsible for the remainder of Jackson's 2025 contract.[48] In three appearances for Detroit, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with four strikeouts across4+2⁄3 innings pitched. Jackson was designated for assignment by the Tigers on August 8; he elected free agency two days later.[49]
On August 21, 2025, Jackson signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners.[50] In three appearances for the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with four strikeouts across2+1⁄3 innings pitched. On September 1, the Mariners selected Jackson's contract, adding him to their active roster.[51] In 10 games for Seattle during the final month of the season, he allowed 6 runs (only 3 of them earned) and struck out 10 in11+1⁄3 innings.[28] He was on the Mariners' roster for theALDS andALCS.[52]
Jackson is married. Their son was born in September 2021. He cuddled his son after pitching in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series.[53]
Jackson took the final step in his rehab from Tommy John surgery while making his Giants debut on Wednesday. He threw a clean seventh inning and struck out two in an otherwise forgettable 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pitching in an MLB game for the first time since the 2021 World Series, Jackson struck out a pair in a perfect seventh inning. He showed an ability to repeatedly land his slider for strikes and hit 96 mph with his fastball.