Nic Jackson '97 named American Association Player of the Year
Nic Jackson '97, a stalwart for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, has been selected player of the year in the American Association, a 13-team independent professional baseball league with affiliates in Canada, the Midwest, and Texas.
A 6-3, 225-pound outfielder who batted .300 with 17 home runs and 84 runs batted in, Jackson, 32, led the RedHawks to a 63-35 record and the championship of the Northern Division. They open the playoffs tonight at home against Winnipeg.
Jackson's latest honor did not come easily. Late in the 2011 season, he suffered severe ligament damage in his left hand, underwent surgery in November, and was finally cleared medically in late April. It was his eighth surgery during his professional career.
"For me, (the MVP award) wasn't something I set my sights on at the beginning of the season," said Jackson from his home in Fargo, ND. "I'm proud of being able to come back and play at a high level. So far this year, I've been pretty lucky with my health. I'm knocking on wood right now."
In his three seasons with Fargo-Moorhead, Jackson has hit .296 with 39 home runs and 222 RBI.
A standout at Collegiate and the University of Richmond, Jackson was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 2000 draft. He also spent time in the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets organizations and advanced as far as AAA.
For several years, he has assisted Collegiate's head baseball coach Andrew Slater '96, a high school and college teammate, before he reported to spring training.
Back
Jackson's latest honor did not come easily. Late in the 2011 season, he suffered severe ligament damage in his left hand, underwent surgery in November, and was finally cleared medically in late April. It was his eighth surgery during his professional career.
"For me, (the MVP award) wasn't something I set my sights on at the beginning of the season," said Jackson from his home in Fargo, ND. "I'm proud of being able to come back and play at a high level. So far this year, I've been pretty lucky with my health. I'm knocking on wood right now."
In his three seasons with Fargo-Moorhead, Jackson has hit .296 with 39 home runs and 222 RBI.
A standout at Collegiate and the University of Richmond, Jackson was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 2000 draft. He also spent time in the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets organizations and advanced as far as AAA.
For several years, he has assisted Collegiate's head baseball coach Andrew Slater '96, a high school and college teammate, before he reported to spring training.
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