Daniel Jackson wasted no time making his presence felt in pro ball.
The Colorado Rockies’ top prospect launched a home run in his first professional game with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies, and he did it in a way that matched the hype. The 21-year-old, a Georgia Bulldogs product, went 2-for-3 in the game and drove the ball deep to left-center field in the top of the fifth inning. Jackson knew he had gotten all of it.
Colorado used the 37th overall pick in the first round on Jackson, and the early return is exactly the kind of jolt a front office wants to see from a top prospect. He already looks like a player who can make the game look easy, and that kind of bat speed and barrel control is the sort of thing that gets attention fast.
Jackson’s résumé at Georgia already stood out before he ever stepped into a pro box. As a catcher, he became the first Division I catcher to post more than 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season. He started all 67 games for the Bulldogs, then followed that with a strong defensive showing in his final season, when he fielded .997 in 593 total chances with just two errors.
The power has shown up in bunches, too. During his sophomore season in 2025, Jackson hit two home runs in a game against Florida Gulf Coast and West Georgia, and Georgia won both of those games.
There’s also a clear connection here for the Rockies, who could end up with a pair of offensive catchers to build around. Jackson should benefit from learning from Hunter Goodman, the Rockies’ star catcher, as he gets his footing in pro baseball. Goodman is trying to establish himself not only as the best-hitting catcher ever, but also to put himself in a position as a Rockies legend and help the team reach October Baseball in the future.
For Jackson, the debut homer is just the first entry in what Colorado hopes becomes a long list. He now carries a 2.800 OPS to start his pro career, and the Fresno Grizzlies are back in action Wednesday afternoon against the San Jose Giants.
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