Article by: Tom Nappi
Ashland native, Jackson Hornung was drafted in the 16th round of the MLB draft with the 484th pick by the Toronto Blue Jays this July and assigned to their Single-A team, Dunedin Blue Jays. Jackson became the first Skidmore athlete to be drafted by a Major League team.
Jackson Hornung of Ashland has been a star on essentially every Baseball Diamond he has ever stepped foot on. He was the top hitter during his High School years with the Clockers and was essential to multiple State Championship runs during his time with Ashland Legion Post 77. Jackson continued his success at Skidmore College and this past season was the 3rd best hitter in the NCAA Liberty League, posting a .424 batting average, 12 HR, 41 RBI’s, 51 Runs. Jackson was the league leader in multiple categories including with his .560 On-Base percentage and .803 Slugging Percentage.
“The All-American catcher and two-time Liberty League Player of the Year is the first Skidmore athlete to be drafted by a professional team. Hornung began the summer playing for Harwich in the Cape Cod League and is now playing for the North Shore Navigators in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. He has two home runs and a pair of doubles in 13 games for North Shore.
The Ashland, Mass. (Ashland) native hit .424 in his senior season with 51 runs scored, 12 home runs, 23 extra-base hits, 41 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He led the league in slugging percentage (.803) and on-base percentage (.560).
Hornung graduated with a .430 career batting average having clubbed 22 homers with 106 RBI and 130 runs scored in 98 games played.” (Courtesy: Liberty League Athletics)
Jackson also put up huge numbers in the New England Futures league for the Westfield Starfires: “Hornung, a catcher and first baseman, was the most outstanding player in the league in 2022, where he led the Futures League with a .363 average, nine home runs, and 45 RBI. The Ashland, Massachusetts native’s pinch-hit three-run double in the bottom of the ninth in the season finale helped push the Starfires to their first-ever playoff appearance.” (Courtesy: Westfield Starfires)
In addition to Baseball, Jackson was also a star on the Hockey Team and Football Team for the Ashland Clockers. Congratulations Jackson on your very-well deserved (and somewhat predictable) move to the Big Leagues!
Hornung made his debut for the Dunedin Blue Jays MiLB-A team on July 29th and went 1 for 4 at the plate with an RBI helping his team capture a 6-3 win over the Tampa Tarpoons.
(Courtesy: Liberty League Athletics)
Add DRAFTED to the list of accolades for@SkidmoreBase‘s Jackson Hornung ’23! The two-time @LLAthletics Player of the Year became the first Thoroughbred to be drafted by a major professional team when he was selected by the @BlueJays in the 16th round of the @MLB draft!#GoTbreds pic.twitter.com/aZzHnd32Qr
— Skidmore Athletics (@SkidmoreSID) July 11, 2023
