June 30, 2009

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Former Furman pitcher Jay Jackson has been selected to play in the 2009 Southern League All-Star Game, it was announced today.

The right-hander from Taylors, S.C., was among a group of six Tennessee Smokies named to the North Division roster for the July 13 game at Regions Park in Birmingham, Ala. Players are selected by a vote of Southern League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media.

Jackson, 21, is the hottest pitcher in the Cubs' system, according to InsideTheIvy.com, with a 4-3 record and 3.15 ERA in 12 starts. He has 61 strikeouts and 25 walks in 65 2/3 innings. Since his April 29 start at West Tennessee, he is 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA in nine starts. He was a ninth-round draft pick in 2008 from Furman.

Jackson, who went 4-2 with a 2.88 earned run average for three Cubs' minor league teams in 2008, began his professional career at Boise in the Northwest League before earning a quick promotion to Peoria, the Cubs' low A affiliate in the Midwest League, and later to high A Daytona of the Florida State League. While at Daytona he posted a 2-0 record and 1.59 ERA while helping his squad to an FSL championship. He earned the victory in Daytona's 9-1 game two championship series victory over Ft. Myers, hurling 5 2/3 innings of four-hit, shutout ball.

He assigned to Class AA Tenenssee out of spring training this year.

A first team All-Southern Conference selection for Furman in 2008, he posted a 9-2 record with a 3.17 earned run average in helping lead the Paladins to a 33-24 overall record and 17-10 third place league finish. He also earned 40 starts in the field, primarily in the outfield, and batted .336 with eight home runs and team leading 41 RBI.