Veteran reliever Jay Jackson had a steady presence in the 2021 bullpen for the SF Giants. On Saturday, he announced that he is retiring from a long and successful baseball career that began as a ninth-round pick of the 2008 draft out of Furman University.
Steady SF Giants reliever from the historic 2021 season announces retirement
The Giants set a franchise record with 107 wins in 2021, so it was a special year for both fans and players. To be able to reach that mark, a lot of players had to play a role.
The Giants’ bullpen was a strength that year. When they had the lead late in games, they rarely let go of it. Of course, a strong bullpen was also a hallmark during the championship run in the 2010’s.
Those bullpens were led by the Core Four, including Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casillia, and Javier López. Brian Wilson was a key part of the 2010 title, and there were quite a few other key contributors as well.
In 2021, the Giants’ bullpen led baseball with a 2.99 ERA. This was due to relievers like Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers, and Dominic Leone handling the leverage spots, but the strength also came from its depth. Jarlín García, José Álvarez, Zack Littell, and Jackson all had good years in the bullpen as well.
- The Giants signed Jackson to a minor league contract prior to the 2021 season. It was a similar deal that they handed out to many relievers that year. By that time, the right-handed hurler had been well travelled, making stops with several major league organizations, as well as stints in the Mexican League and overseas.
Jackson always flashed a good four-seam fastball that sat in the mid-90s with a slider and occasional changeup. The slider became his go-to pitch with San Francisco, leading to a quality season on the mound where he posted a 3.74 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks across 21.1 frames.
The Giants designated him for assignment, but traded him to the Atlanta Braves before he could clear waivers. He made a few more stops, including a good stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. He made 20 appearances for the Minnesota Twins last season. Overall, Jackson tallied a 4.43 ERA in parts of six seasons.
