New York Yankees Draft Utah’s Core Jackson In Fifth Round Of MLB Draft
Jul 14, 2025, 11:31 AM | Updated: 4:31 pm
Utah SS Core Jackson hits against the Oregon Ducks during the 2024 season. Jackson was taken by the New York Yankees in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB draft. (Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics)
(Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics)
SALT LAKE CITY – The road to the big leagues begins for Utah shortstop Core Jackson after the New York Yankees selected Jackson in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Jackson is the 79th Ute drafted all-time and first drafted by the Yankees since current Brewers farmhand Oliver Dunn in 2019.
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Almost exclusively hitting out of the first two spots in the order, Jackson was an integral part of Utah’s transition from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 Conference. He finishes his Utah career as an All-Conference First Team honoree in both leagues.
He hit .363 in his time with the Utes, tallying 34 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 112 runs scored in 100 career games at Utah.
He leaves the school ninth in career batting average (.363), tenth in OBP (.455), and tenth in stolen bases (37).
About Core Jackson
A native of Wyoming, Ontario, Jackson signed with the Utes as a junior after hitting .321 with 16 doubles, three triples, four home runs, and 33 RBI for the South Mountain Community College Cougars in 2023.
As a freshman at Nebraska, he hit .210 with six doubles, two triples, one homer, and 21 RBI.
Jackson was dynamite at the top of manager Gary Henderson’s lineup in his first season with the Utes. He slashed .363/.463/.516 while serving as Utah’s primary leadoff hitter.
With their 5th‑round pick (No. 164 overall), the @Yankees select @utahbaseball shortstop Core Jackson.
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/VOZqOwm6uH pic.twitter.com/tpSq9bkNdr
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 14, 2025
He stole 17 bases, second-best in the Pac-12 behind teammate Kai Roberts (33). Jackson was in the top eight in the Pac-12 for batting average (fourth), hits (fourth, 78), and triples (eighth, 3). His 26 multi-hit games are the second-most for a Ute in the Pac-12 era.
He leveled up as a senior, being named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the nation’s top shortstop.
Jackson slashed .364 /.445 /.641, and led the club in most major statistical categories.
He has good arm strength and range from shortstop. His athleticism pops defensively, at the plate, and on the base paths as a speedy runner with good base-stealing skills.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
