UNIVERSITY PARK — For those lucky few high school and college players talented enough to be drafted by a major league baseball team, it doesn’t take very much time for the dream of playing professional baseball to become a reality.
Most high school and college players are on the field until at least late May, and the MLB draft is in early June. If a player is chosen in the draft and signs, he can go from college athlete to professional baseball player in a matter of 10 days or two weeks. Or less.
That was the case for new Spikes outfielder Vince Jackson, who is one of four 2016 draftees on State College’s opening-day roster.
Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound lefthander, comes to the Spikes after a stellar career at the University of Tennessee. He was selected in the 14th round of the draft by the Cardinals and was assigned to State College on June 15. Two days later he was in the lineup when the Spikes traveled to Williamsport to open their season against the Crosscutters.
‘On draft day people were calling,’ he said, ‘and I was in contact with the Cardinals quite a bit. They called the day before, and then that day they drafted me.
‘It was exciting. I was with my best friend and my parents and family. It was a good day, a good day.
‘I was a college graduate, and I did four years. So I was ready for the next level, and I knew whoever picked me up — thankfully the Cardinals did — that I would probably end up signing.’
Those four years at Tennessee were highly successful for the McDunnough, Ga., native. In the 2016 season, Jackson hit .333 with 10 doubles, a triple and 12 home runs. He scored 42 runs and knocked in 57 runs in 57 games.
He started every game in his senior season and had 159 total starts in his college career.
‘There is great pitching in the SEC,’ Jackson said. ‘I think that, and my coaches, have gotten me ready for this level. I’m ready for the challenge. I’m not the fastest, but I can get from A to B.’
After a slow start in his first four games as a pro, Jackson has lately been showing signs of progress. He started two for his first 16 at bats, but then he went 3-for-5 in the series opener at Batavia on June 22, and then he scored four runs and had three more hits in the final two games of that series to raise his season average to .286.
Still, Jackson realizes that the transition to pro ball will not necessarily be an easy one. ‘In college, we played four, five times a week,’ he said. ‘So playing every day, seeing the pitching, getting used to the breaking ball and stuff like that: It’s getting used to another routine and a different environment.
‘I’m glad to be in this environment, in State College, playing for the Spikes. I am blessed for the opportunity.’
