Yankees Draft Utah Shortstop Core Jackson Fifth Round

Core Jackson, a 21-year-old shortstop from Wyoming, Ontario, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft. Jackson had an impressive collegiate career at the University of Utah, where he was a key player during the team's transition from the Pac-12 to the Big 12, earning first-team all-conference honors in both leagues. He led Utah in numerous offensive categories in 2025, including batting average (.364), on-base percentage (.445), slugging percentage (.641), home runs (12), RBIs (44), and stolen bases (20). Jackson was also a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, recognizing the nation's top shortstop, and is noted for his strong defensive skills and athleticism. Throughout his Utah tenure, Jackson started all 100 games he played, ranking in the school's top ten for batting average, on-base percentage, and stolen bases. His selection marks the third time a University of Utah player has been drafted by the Yankees, following Oliver Dunn in 2019 and Steve Rudanovich in 1965.