FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas pitcher Zach Jackson has spent the last couple of weeks doing something he wouldn't have thought possible at the start of the season.
Jackson, the highest-rated current Razorback prospect for Major League Baseball's first-year player draft that starts today, has been going through personal workouts for clubs and staying in shape in Tulsa rather than participating in college baseball's postseason.
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At a glance
When 6 p.m. Central today
Where Secaucus, N.J.
What 40 rounds today-Saturday involving the 30 MLB teams
TV MLB Network
Noteworthy Today’s coverage begins with a preview show at 5 p.m., with the draft beginning at 6 p.m.; Friday’s coverage of rounds 3-10 begins at 11:30 a.m., with round 3 starting at noon; Saturday’s coverage of rounds 11-40 begins at 11 a.m.
"I didn't really plan on being at home this time of year," Jackson said. "It's been hectic the last couple of weeks getting ready for the draft.
"I guess one thing I took advantage of not playing is that I got to do a couple of pre-draft workouts the last couple of weekends with the Rangers and the Astros."
Jackson, a would-be senior who has been a closer and starter the past two seasons, is a candidate to be selected within the first two rounds of the 40-round draft today. The first two rounds will be made up of 77 picks, 41 in the first round and 36 in the second. Each of the first two rounds will have a competitive-balance lottery section of seven picks at the end of the round.
Jackson, a junior right-hander from the Tulsa suburb of Berryhill, Okla., is ranked No. 66 in the MLB Pipeline draft ratings produced by MLB.com.
Arkansas has a host of other potential draft picks, both signees and players on the current roster such as outfielder Luke Bonfield, infielder-outfielder Clark Eagan, infielder-outfielder Carson Shaddy, and pitchers Dominic Taccolini and James Teague. Bonfield and Shaddy are draft eligible after just completing their sophomore seasons, and the others would be seniors next year.
The deadline for drafted players to sign professional contracts is July 15.
"We have until the middle of July to figure it out, but hopefully we'll know before then," Van Horn said of sorting out his roster for next season. "Obviously we have a gut feeling on some of our guys now, so I look at a couple of position players that there's a really good chance we could lose that are high school kids at some key positions and probably a couple of pitchers."
While Van Horn is hopeful Bonfield, Shaddy and some of his current pitchers will return, Jackson seems likely to be drafted high enough and command enough of a signing bonus to move into professional ball.
"It's something where I definitely have leverage, and if I don't feel like I'm being offered what I should, there's always the option of going back to school and finishing out my senior year," Jackson said. "It'll all kind of just be in the moment and what I feel is right.
"Hopefully, if it works out like some of the teams have been telling me it should, then yes, I've kind of prepared myself for it. Even as a kid in high school, you know after your junior year in college, if you've put yourself in position, you get that opportunity with a little bit of leverage."
Jackson, a 6-3 right-hander with a plus fastball and curve and a good slider, was thought of as a first-round talent after his sophomore year, when he went 5-1 with 9 saves, a 2.10 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 60 innings. Jackson was first-team All-SEC, a member of the USA Collegiate National Team, and he closed out the Razorbacks' 3-2 victory over Missouri State in an NCAA Super Regional with a strikeout.
He was not as effective as a junior, posting a 3-4 record and 5.09 ERA, with 66 strikeouts and 40 walks in 53 innings. He had four saves before moving into the weekend rotation, where he made five starts.
Whoever drafts Jackson will have to make a decision on whether he starts or relieves.
"I've always felt that Zach was a reliever," outgoing Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn said. "And I think out of necessity and somewhat out of his desire to try and start ... we gave him that opportunity.
"But I just didn't ever feel that he was a starter. I thought with his command of pitches and a little bit more of the power type of stuff, he would be more suited to pitch in a relief role."
Van Horn agreed, saying the major league club who drafts Jackson will be able to build his arm up and find his niche.
"It's all about command -- commanding that fastball," Van Horn said. "He struggled with it, but he's still got a good arm. He's still got a good breaking ball.
"I feel like he'll sign. I still think he's going to be a pretty good draft pick. He might not be a first-rounder ... but he's still going to get a great opportunity and have a chance to sign for a good amount of money, and I don't think he'll pass it up."
Jackson said the feedback he's received on starting or relieving has been about 50-50.
"I just want to get in an organization that thinks whatever I'm doing is going to get me up all the way," said Jackson, who had a 4.0 grade-point average last semester. "Whatever that may be, whether it's closing or starting, I really don't have a preference at this point, as long as they just see me as hopefully being a big leaguer one day with it."
Sports on 06/09/2016