Report: Former D-backs first baseman/outfielder Conor Jackson retires
Apr 14, 2013, 7:38 PM | Updated: Apr 15, 2013, 12:01 pm
When Conor Jackson was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft, the former California standout was thought to be one of the younger cornerstones of the franchise moving forward.
10 years later, Jackson has reportedly called it a career according to the Baltimore Sun.
The 30-year-old first baseman/outfielder hit .302 with three HR and six RBI this spring with the Baltimore Orioles but was cut just before the team broke camp in late March.
Before Sunday’s announcement, Jackson was 5-for-25 in nine games with Triple-A Norfolk.
After being drafted by the D-backs, Jackson played parts of six seasons with Arizona. He hit a combined 42 home runs and 214 RBI between 2006-2008, but illness kept him from reaching his full potential with the organization.
Jackson was diagnosed with valley fever in May 2009, and only played in 30 games with the D-backs due to constant fatigue and weakness. In June 2010, Arizona sent the former first-round pick to the Oakland Athletics for reliever Sam Demel.
Over the past two seasons, Jackson has played for four different organizations (Athletics, Red Sox, White Sox and Orioles), primarily at the Triple-A level. His last at-bat in the major leagues came in September 2011 with Boston.
