​With the 37th pick in today’s MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies selected Daniel Jackson, making him the first Bulldog taken off the board. Colorado is receiving one of the most productive college players in recent memory, along with a genuine, engaging personality who became a fan favorite in Athens.
Jackson’s 2026 season in Athens produced numbers that stand out even in a powerhouse year. In 67 games, he slashed .379/.473/.803 with 32 home runs, 87 RBIs, 88 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases in 28 attempts. He led the nation in total bases and runs scored, finished second in hits, home runs, and RBIs, and became just the third player in Southeastern Conference history to win the batting triple crown. Perhaps most remarkable, Jackson became the first catcher ever, and only the sixth player in Division I history, to record a 25-home-run, 25-stolen-base season while catching the sport’s most physically demanding position. He posted a sterling .997 fielding percentage behind the plate with only two errors in 593 chances, throwing out roughly a third of opposing baserunners. His production earned him a full sweep of college baseball’s top individual honors: the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s top catcher, the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award, SEC Player of the Year, and consensus first-team All-America recognition. And, of course, he led Georgia to its first College World Series appearance since 2008.
Jackson’s profile blends power and speed in a way that’s uncommon for a catcher. He possesses raw power to all fields, and his athleticism behind the plate and on the bases distinguishes him from most other catching prospects in this draft class. His arm strength also gives teams the option to move him to a corner outfield spot in the future if needed. The most frequent concern scouts voice about Jackson centers on his ability to make consistent contact. While his college career featured real swing-and-miss at times, including 64 strikeouts in 319 plate appearances during his standout junior year, his path has been unconventional. He began at Wofford, where he earned Southern Conference Freshman of the Year honors, then transferred to Georgia and faced a tougher sophomore season before breaking out as a junior. That inconsistency has caused some evaluators to question how his bat will translate against professional pitching, even though his improved strikeout rate this past season signals meaningful progress.
Jackson’s personality is as memorable as his statistics. Teammates and coaches alike note his engaging presence. A self-described nature documentary aficionado, he has taken to narrating batting practice in a National Geographic-inspired voice and giving animal nicknames to teammates. He’s dubbed Kolby Branch “the Orca” for his tendency to play with his food at the plate, and he’s called pitcher Paul Farley “Talons.” His infectious enthusiasm and humor have made him a beloved figure in the Georgia program, underscoring the impression he leaves off the field as well as on it.