The Athletics outrighted Jackson to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday after he cleared waivers.
Jackson lost his spot on Oakland's 40-man roster Saturday, when the Athletics needed to clear room for right-hander Alex Speas after acquiring him from the White Sox. Though he notched 28 holds and four saves for Oakland over the past two seasons, Jackson struggled mightily in spring training to earn a demotion to Triple-A to begin the season. The Athletics elected to designate him for assignment after Jackson failed to show much improvement at Las Vegas; he was touched up for one earned run on two hits and five walks over two innings through his first two appearances in the Pacific Coast League.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Designated for assignment
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Jackson was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Sunday.
It's been a precipitous drop for Jackson in a relatively short period of time, as he recorded 28 holds and four saves while posting a a 2.86 ERA over 73 games for Oakland over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The right-hander's fortunes began to turn for the worse this spring when he produced a 6.48 ERA in nine Cactus League outings, and they didn't get any better (18.00 ERA, 5.00 WHIP) over three appearances with Triple-A Las Vegas early this minor-league season. Jackson's spot on the 40-man roster was taken up by Alex Speas, who was acquired from the White Sox on Saturday for cash considerations.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Athletics optioned Jackson to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Jackson missed out on a bullpen spot after allowing seven runs (six earned) over 8.1 innings this spring. The 29-year-old could still eventually fill a leverage role in an unsettled Oakland bullpen.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Healthy for spring training
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Jackson (elbow/appendix) has made two appearances for the Athletics thus far during Cactus League play, covering two scoreless innings and striking out a batter while giving up one hit and one walk.
When healthy, Jackson was one of the Athletics' top relievers last season, but he didn't make any appearances after May 16 due to a right flexor tendon strain. He began a minor-league rehab assignment in late July, but he ultimately wasn't activated from the 60-day injured list after he required an emergency appendectomy. Jackson appears to have made a full recovery from the appendectomy and should be in good shape to make the Athletics' Opening Day roster, but it's unclear if he'll be a part of Oakland's unsettled closing situation.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Out indefinitely after appendectomy
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Jackson (elbow) underwent an appendectomy Monday and is without a timeline to resume his rehab program, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Jackson has made two minor-league appearances in the past week as he works on returning from a strained elbow, but his recovery from the appendectomy will put a pause on his rehab indefinitely. He struck out four and allowed two earned runs in two innings across the two rehab appearances. The right-hander has been on the injured list since mid-May.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Logs second rehab outing
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Jackson (elbow) allowed two earned runs on two solo home runs while also recording two strikeouts over one inning in Single-A Stockton's win over Lake Elsinore on Saturday.
Jackson's second rehab outing certainly didn't go as smoothly as the first, when he fired a perfect frame Wednesday. However, Jackson still toughed out a difficult inning and recorded a pair of strikeouts along the way, firing 11 of his 17 pitches for strikes. Despite the somewhat rocky appearance Saturday, Jackson will move up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his next rehab outing Tuesday, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Begins rehab assignment
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Jackson (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Low-A Stockton on Wednesday.
Jackson struck out a pair in a perfect inning in his first game action in more than two months. The reliever should move up to a higher affiliate soon and wouldn't appear far off from rejoining the Athletics' bullpen.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Completes another bullpen session
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Jackson (elbow) threw another bullpen session Saturday, the Associated Press reports.
Jackson also threw a bullpen session the previous Saturday and didn't experience any residual effects, but the Athletics apparently determined he wasn't yet ready to face live hitters. However, if the right-hander's elbow responds well again over the next few days, a live BP session could be the next step in Jackson's recovery.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: No issues after bullpen session
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Jackson (elbow) did not feel any residual effects from Saturday's bullpen session, the team's official site reports.
Jackson reported feeling good Sunday and is now set to face live hitters in a batting practice session as his next step. The right-hander last saw game action May 16, so he projects for a fairly lengthy rehab assignment whenever he reaches that stage of his recovery.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Set for bullpen session
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Jackson (elbow) is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday, the team's official site reports.
The right-hander's absence due to a flexor tendon strain is approaching two months, yet Saturday's planned activity is certainly a step in the right direction. Jackson will eventually be ticketed for a lengthy rehab assignment given how long he's been sidelined, but even that step is still likely weeks away.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Removed from 40-man roster
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Oakland transferred Jackson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Jackson won't be eligible to rejoin the Athletics until after the All-Star break, as he was initially placed on the 15-day IL on May 19 with a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow. The move clears a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Angel Felipe, whom Oakland claimed off waivers from San Diego.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: To begin throwing next week
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Jackson (elbow) has apparently reached the point where he is pain-free and will begin throwing next week, the team's official site reports.
The right-hander's right flexor tendon strain has been slow to improve, but Jackson is now on the precipice of a throwing program. The 28-year-old could be ready to head out on a rehab assignment by the end of the month if he remains free of setbacks.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Could start throwing soon
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The Athletics announced Wednesday that Jackson (elbow) could begin a throwing program next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Jackson has spent the past two and a half weeks resting after he landed on the 15-day injured list May 19 with a right flexor tendon strain. Because he had been serving largely as a one-inning reliever prior to being shut down, Jackson won't required an extensive ramp-up period, though he still looks unlikely to make it back from the IL until at least late June even if he experiences no further setbacks once he starts throwing again.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: To IL with flexor strain
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Jackson was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Athletics on Friday with a right flexor tendon strain.
It's an injury which typically results in longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Jackson was part of the closer mix in a messy A's bullpen situation but now figures to be out of commission for at least a month or so. Not a single active member of the bullpen has recorded a save this season.
Jackson picked up the save Saturday against the Royals. He gave up one hit and one walk while striking out two over one scoreless inning.
Jackson grabbed his first save of the season, taking advantage of Trevor May's (personal) presence on the 15-day injured list and Jeurys Familia recently being designated for assignment. May's rehab assignment was recently paused, making it unclear when he might rejoin the A's. Jackson appears to be Oakland's preferred option at closer for now, but he'll likely remain an unsavory fantasy option considering Saturday's win was just the team's eighth of the year.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Gets second win Sunday
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Jackson (2-1) got the win against the Reds on Sunday, firing a scoreless ninth inning during which he allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts.
Jackson labored some to preserve the 4-4 tie he'd entered the game under, allowing a single and double to Kevin Newman and Spencer Steer, respectively, to open the frame. However, he powered himself out of trouble with swinging strikeouts of Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson before inducing an inning-ending groundout from Henry Ramos. Jackson was then rewarded with his resiliency via Esteury Ruiz's game-winning single in the home half of the ninth, giving him both his 2023 wins in addition to his first hold in the last four appearances.
Jackson (0-1) was charged with the loss in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Guardians, allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit, a walk and a wild pitch over one inning. He struck out one.
Tasked with preserving a 4-4 tie when he entered in the 10th inning, Jackson immediately issued a walk to Myles Straw and then uncorked a wild pitch that moved both him and inning-opening runner Andres Gimenez up a base. After subsequently surrendering an RBI groundout and RBI single to Will Brennan and Steven Kwan, respectively, Jackson was on the hook for the loss he was eventually charged with. The right-hander's struggles Wednesday notwithstanding, Jackson should remain a trusted member of the manager Mark Kotsay's late-inning bullpen arsenal and had opened the season with three straight scoreless appearances before the hiccup.
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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Control issues in spring
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Jackson sports a 1-0 record, 4.50 ERA and 2.17 WHIP across six innings in six Cactus League appearances.
The right-hander was a highly valuable bullpen asset as a rookie in 2022 before ending the season on the injured list with a shoulder strain, producing a 2-3 record, 27 holds, three saves and a 3.00 ERA across 54 appearances. Jackson has experienced some control issues as he works off rust this spring, however, issuing multiple walks in three appearances. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old impressively managed to avoid any damage until his most recent outing Saturday against the Reds, when he allowed his only three runs of Cactus League play thus far across just one-third of an inning.
