Jackson sports a 1-0 record, 4.50 ERA and 2.17 WHIP across six innings in six Cactus League appearances.
The right-hander was a highly valuable bullpen asset as a rookie in 2022 before ending the season on the injured list with a shoulder strain, producing a 2-3 record, 27 holds, three saves and a 3.00 ERA across 54 appearances. Jackson has experienced some control issues as he works off rust this spring, however, issuing multiple walks in three appearances. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old impressively managed to avoid any damage until his most recent outing Saturday against the Reds, when he allowed his only three runs of Cactus League play thus far across just one-third of an inning.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Looks ready for spring debut
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Jackson (shoulder) is listed as an available option out of the Oakland bullpen for Monday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Jackson closed the 2022 campaign on the injured list with a shoulder strain suffered in early September, but he avoided surgery to address the injury and appears to be back to full strength for spring training. Oakland has yet to formally name a closer for Opening Day, and Jackson should factor into the late-inning mix in some capacity after a strong showing as a rookie a season ago. Over his 54 appearances with the big club spanning 48 innings, the right-hander accrued a 3.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:33 K:BB while collecting three saves and 27 holds.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Likely done for season
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A's manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday it's unlikely that Jackson (shoulder) will pitch again this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Jackson has been making progress with his strained right shoulder, the issue is simply that there isn't enough time left in the season for Jackson to come back. The rookie reliever will likely have to wait until 2023 to pitch again following his 3.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP campaign in 2022.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: MRI reveals strain
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Jackson's recent MRI revealed a shoulder strain, and he's expected to rest all of next week before likely embarking on a rehab assignment, the team's official site reports.
The right-hander, who's shouldered a heavy workload as a rookie this season with 54 appearances, still has a chance to return to action in 2022 if his rehab assignment goes off without setbacks and is of relatively short duration. Manager Mark Kotsay praised the 27-year-old's impressive body of work, which includes a 3.00 ERA, 27 holds and a 12.6 K/9, and confirmed the organization will err on the side of caution but noted "any time a player can finish the season, you want to give him that opportunity."
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Out with shoulder inflammation
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Jackson was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation.
Jackson hasn't seen game action since Aug. 24 and will now be unavailable for at least the next couple weeks due to the shoulder issue. Dany Jimenez (shoulder) was recently ruled out for the rest of the season, leaving A.J. Puk as the leading candidate for save opportunities going forward.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Earns third save
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Jackson recorded a save Wednesday against the Angels, tossing a perfect frame during which he struck out two batters.
Jackson protected a two-run, ninth-inning lead with ease, notching a pair of punchouts and retiring all three batters he faced on 14 pitches. It was a strong bounce-back performance after the right-hander took a loss against the White Sox his last time out. With Lou Trivino now a Yankee, Jackson could be Oakland's closer of choice -- A.J. Puk, who is also in competition for the role, worked the seventh inning and picked up his 14th hold in the contest. Dany Jimenez, who was recently activated from the injured list, also figures to be in the ninth-inning mix.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Takes third loss Saturday
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Jackson (2-3) took the loss against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing an earned run on a hit and a wild pitch over one-third of an inning.
The normally reliable Jackson was entrusted with preserving a 2-2 tie when he entered in the ninth inning, but he conceded a leadoff double to Gavin Sheets and eventually allowed the winning run to score on a wild pitch while facing Tim Anderson. The stumble was a rare one for the right-hander, who'd last given up an earned run June 23, a span of 14 appearances.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Records second save
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Jackson recorded his second save in a win over the Rangers on Saturday, firing a scoreless ninth inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.
After Sam Moll earned his 10th hold with a strong 1.1-inning performance that served as a bridge to the ninth inning, Jackson took over and disposed of the Rangers on 13 pitches to close out the win. The right-hander has the swing-and-miss stuff to seemingly thrive in high-leverage spots, posting a 12.7 K/9 across what is now an 11-appearance, 10.2-inning stretch during which he hasn't allowed an earned run.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Snags another hold in win
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Jackson recorded his 17th hold in a win over the Astros on Saturday, allowing a hit and recording a strikeout over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.
One of the Athletics' bullpen's workhorses was at it again Saturday during a game in which five relievers preserved a strong start from rookie Zach Logue. The 27-year-old has been highly reliable during his first taste of the big leagues, with Saturday's outing lowering his ERA to 3.21 and serving as his ninth scoreless appearance in his last 10 trips to the mound.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Picks up 13th hold
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Jackson secured his 13th hold in a win over the Royals on Sunday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.
A day after picking up his second win, Jackson came back to throw a laborious 21-pitch inning that netted him a hold for the fifth time in the last six appearances. Jackson has had a handful of stumbles this season, but he boasts a 12.7 K/9 and 2.82 FIP across 29.2 innings over 32 appearances.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Earns win in relief
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Jackson (2-2) earned the win Saturday against the Royals. He allowed no runs on no hits while striking out one and walking none over one inning.
Jackson took home the win after a three-up, three-down sixth inning during which he sent down Kansas City's 3-4-5 hitters. He needed only 11 pitches to end the inning. The righty reliever was credited with his second win of the season after being given the loss in his last appearance. Jackson continues to be a reliable arm in the bullpen, though he has only one save on the season.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Up to eight holds
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Jackson recorded his eighth hold in a win over the Mariners on Tuesday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout.
Jackson served as an effective bridge to closer Dany Jimenez in the ninth inning by putting together an eighth straight appearance without allowing an earned run. The right-hander has lowered his ERA from 4.91 to 2.75 in the process while also recording a win and four holds.
Jackson recorded his third hold in a win over the Rangers on Sunday, firing two perfect innings during which he recorded two strikeouts.
Jackson got his six outs on an efficient 22 pitches, 14 of which found the strike zone. The 27-year-old right-hander has now generated scoreless efforts in three of his last four appearances, a stretch during which he's lowered his ERA from 5.40 to 3.86 while also generating a 5:0 K:BB over 3.2 innings.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Nabs one-out save
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Jackson struck out the lone batter he faced on four pitches en route to recording his first career save Tuesday in the Athletics' 2-1 win over the Orioles.
Jackson was the recipient of the Athletics' first save chance after Lou Trivino was moved to the COVID-19 injured list Monday. The left-handed Sam Moll initially took the hill to begin the ninth inning and struck out two batters and allowed a base hit, but manager Mark Kotsay opted to summon the right-handed Jackson from the bullpen to record the game's final out. Kotsay could be inclined to play matchups in the late innings while Trivino is sidelined, so Jackson likely won't make for an appealing pickup even for managers who are speculating on saves.
