The Yankees gamble on Core Jackson has already lit a fire in the Bronx after the organization admitted to knowing the troubled past of a 2025 MLB Draft pick before draft selection
After extensive research on the talented but deeply controversial prospect, the New York Yankees knew precisely what they were getting into when they drafted shortstop Core Jackson in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft. His past has already positioned him as one of the most controversial rookies in the league in a roster move that shook up the Bronx, aside from losing Juan Soto.
Jackson was selected with the 164th overall pick out of Utah and was coming off a breakout all-conference campaign in which he hit .262 with 16 home runs and cemented himself as one of the Big 12’s most promising players. On paper, he was a raw talent with a power bat and a strong arm worth gambling on in late rounds. His development could see him one day join slugger Aaron Judge, who already has over 300 home runs with the organization.
Beneath the numbers is a darker story that has trailed him since his first year. Back in 2021, while a teenager at Nebraska, Jackson admitted to drawing a swastika on the dorm room door of a Jewish student.
He later claimed he was blacked-out drunk, had no recollection of the act, and characterized himself as “the worst person in the world” afterward, he told The Athletic. Nebraska’s response was lenient with community service, online sensitivity training, and no suspension from the team.
He continued playing, appearing in 44 games and hitting .210 with just one home run and 21 RBI.
The first recruit from Canada to sign with Nebraska since 1998 eventually transferred to Utah, where he rebuilt his career.
He became a reliable starter, rounded out his offensive game, and entered the draft with enough momentum that the Yankees front office felt comfortable taking the risk.
Jackson’s past is already being scrutinized in New York, a city with one of the largest Jewish populations in the world. The city has over 1.3 million Jewish inhabitants, making it the second biggest outside of Israel.
The Yankees insist they left no stone unturned before bringing Jackson to MLB.
Director of scouting Damon Oppenheimer stressed that the organization conducted the most extensive background check possible before signing him. He added that the move was approved by Jewish leaders within the club, including president Randy Levine and owner Hal Steinbrenner
“We were looking for accountability,” Oppenheimer said. “We believe his actions since the incident show remorse and growth.”
Jackson’s second major misstep was a DUI charge in 2023 during his first year at Utah. That offense was resolved with fines, training, and community service, and Jackson claims he has not had a drink since.
I think it’s important that this is part of my story,” Jackson said recently. “God has given me this platform, and I want to use it to show forgiveness and growth.”
The 21-year-old Canadian shortstop debuted with the Hudson Valley Renegades, New Yorks High-A affiliate. He’s logged nine games and is 7-for-36 at the plate with three doubles, a triple, and a .194 batting average. On Tuesday, he went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run, a walk, and two strikeouts in Hudson Valleys 5-2 win over Jersey Shore.
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