Lugnuts Player Spotlight: Jackson Rees
LANSING, Mich. via TORONTO, Ont. - Right-handed pitcher Jackson Rees, who stands at 6'4" and has the smile of a shy giant, has been one of the Lansing Lugnuts' most surprising players so far this season.A native of Aliso Viejo, California, and a product of the little-known Saddleback College, Rees
LANSING, Mich. via TORONTO, Ont. - Right-handed pitcher Jackson Rees, who stands at 6'4" and has the smile of a shy giant, has been one of the Lansing Lugnuts' most surprising players so far this season.
A native of Aliso Viejo, California, and a product of the little-known Saddleback College, Rees took his talents to Honolulu to play for the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors.
Though he had a strong season in 2016 at Saddleback - posting an ERA of 2.43 in 10 starts - he still had to work hard to get accepted to Hawai'i, sending emails to over 30 coaches to reach out and get his foot in the door.
"I emailed 10, 20, 30 coaches," Rees said. "Anyone I could play on, I emailed them, Hawaii was the first one to reach back. There was lots of opportunity and I couldn't let it slip."
A beach volleyball player back in California, Rees didn't actually visit UH's campus before committing. But, after a quick tour of the lush campus, he knew he'd made the right choice.
While at Hawai'i, Rees, now 24, was able to learn his physical limits a bit better, something that he credits to Rainbow Warriors athletic trainer Wade Yamasaki and head coach Mike Trapasso.
Off the field, he majored in Communicology, a hybrid of linguistics and communications that gets its name from the portmanteau of communication and the suffix "-ology," meaning "the study of." Though it wasn't perhaps the most predictable field for a baseball player to specialize in, Rees learned a lot and enjoyed his time in the classroom.
"It helped me pick up on the nonverbal parts of communication," he remarked. "It's funny, because you might think being a speech major is all about public speaking, but being a Communicology major is all about the behind-the-scenes of speech."
At Hawai'i, Rees pitched to an ERA of 4.11 in 81 innings, striking out 39 and walking 34 in 14 games, 11 of which he started. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser called him "the University of Hawai'i baseball team's best starting pitcher."
By his own admission, Rees's age was a factor in major league teams deciding not to pick him in the draft. Still, the Blue Jays took a shot and signed him to a minor-league deal shortly after the draft, immediately assigning him to the team's Gulf Coast League affiliate.
His parents, Bill and Kathy, were thrilled, even more so because Jackson got his diploma. They acknowledged his immense love for the game and encouraged him to "play it as long as he can."
This offseason, he went back to his high school and worked in the weight room to ensure he stayed in peak condition. When not lifting and working on mechanics, he played long toss with the Laguna Beach High School baseball team.
After a solid offseason, Rees was simply hoping to get to Vancouver to play for the Short Season-A Canadians to open up the season. Anything above that, he said, would be "a cherry on top."
So far, Rees is making the most of the "cherry on top" situation he's pitched himself into in Lansing. Through the first 10 games of his Midwest League career, he carries an ERA of 0.53 with a ridiculous WHIP of 0.71 and 30 strikeouts in 17.0 innings pitched.
With what he describes as a "funky" delivery, Rees relies heavily on sinking pitches that, in his view, go against the traditional movement that many pitchers employ.
"I reel back and kinda do some funky things," he said. "Mine does the opposite of rising, it sinks a lot more than you think. I like to keep batters off balance."
Through the development of a changeup, and the continued improvement of his windup and mechanics, Rees hopes to use his slider and cutter in better spots and grow as a pitcher and as an athlete in general.
While he might not have been one of the most hyped names on this Lugnuts roster, he's shown, in limited innings, that he's an arm to keep an eye on going forward. With an eclectic story and the stuff to match, Rees should be a pivotal part of Lansing's pitching staff as the season rolls on.
Schwartz blasts Nuts past Caps
EASTLAKE, OH – Catcher Nick Schwartz delivered a two-run single and a tie-breaking solo homer, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (25-20) to a 6-3 win over the Lake County Captains (24-21) on Sunday afternoon at Classic Auto Group Park. The Lugnuts won the final two games in the series after dropping
Avant aces Captains, Lugnuts split twinbill
EASTLAKE, OH – Corey Avant set a new career high with five scoreless innings, combining with Jake Garland on a two-hit shutout to help the Lansing Lugnuts (24-20) split a doubleheader with the Lake County Captains (24-20), winning 4-0 after losing 2-0 on Saturday at Classic Auto Group Park. The
Lasko, Conn and White go deep in 8-4 loss
EASTLAKE, OH – Ryan Lasko, Cole Conn and Tommy White each homered, but the Lansing Lugnuts (23-19) lost a third straight game at the Lake County Captains (23-19), 8-4, on Friday night at Classic Auto Group Park. Center fielder Lasko walloped his first home run of the season leading off
Nuts/Captains postponed, doubleheader Saturday
EASTLAKE, OH – The Lansing Lugnuts’ (23-18) scheduled Thursday night game against the Lake County Captains (22-19) at Classic Auto Group Park was postponed due to approaching inclement weather. The game will be made up Saturday as part of a doubleheader of two seven-inning games beginning at 4 p.m. The
Captains stave off Lugs in matinee, 5-4
EASTLAKE, OH – A ninth-inning rally for the Lansing Lugnuts (23-18) came up one run short in a 5-4 loss to the Lake County Captains (22-19) on Wednesday afternoon at Classic Auto Group Park. Trailing 5-2 against Yorman Gómez entering the ninth, T.J. Schofield-Sam slapped a first-pitch single and Rodney
Echavarria quality, but Lugs fall in opener
EASTLAKE, OH – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria twirled his first career quality start, but the Lansing Lugnuts (23-17) dropped the opener of a six-game series at the Lake County Captains (21-19), 4-2, on Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. Echavarria, MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 Athletics prospect, fired a career high
Roster Moves: Robinson promoted, White activated, Barrera and Dettmer join
The Lansing Lugnuts (23-16) announced the following roster changes, in conjunction with the Athletics: - Pitcher Kyle Robinson is promoted to Midland (Double-A – Texas League) - Pitchers Nathan Dettmer and Diego Barrera received from Stockton (Single-A – California League) - Third baseman Tommy White is activated from the Injured
Nuts double up South Bend, 8-4, win five of six
ANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (23-16) finished off a second dominant series against a West Division foe, topping the South Bend Cubs (10-29), 8-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts improved to 10-2 against the West, winning five of six games at home against the Cubs a
Dickey OF assist closes Lugnuts’ 517 Day victory
LANSING, Mich. – Ivan Brethowr raced for second base as the potential game-tying run, but right fielder Jared Dickey threw him out to close a thrilling 6-5 victory for the Lansing Lugnuts (22-16) over the South Bend Cubs (10-28) on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™. The Nuts have won four
Morel powers 6-run 10th, as Cubs stop Lugs
LANSING, Mich. – Rafael Morel clocked a pair of two-run homers, the second to ignite a six-run 10th inning, and the South Bend Cubs (10-27) came from behind to top the Lansing Lugnuts (21-16), 12-8, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts had won the first three games of
Judkins whiffs eight, Nuts win third straight
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins struck out eight batters in 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (21-15) rode a five-run fifth to a 6-2 win over the South Bend Cubs (9-27) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts’ third straight win in the series dropped South Bend’s
Lugnuts outclass Cubs, 4-1
LANSING, Mich. – In front of 7,532 on the second Grand Slam School Day of the year, the Lansing Lugnuts (20-15) used a four-run seventh to top the South Bend Cubs (9-26), 4-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts won their second straight game in the series, following
Down to their final strike, Nuts rally to walk off the Cubs
LANSING, Mich. – Joshua Kuroda-Grauer forced extra innings with a two-strike, two-out, game-tying, two-run double, and Rodney Green, Jr. lined a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning, culminating a thrilling 7-6 Lansing Locos (19-15) victory over the South Bend Cubs (9-25) on Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. It was
Penney-wise Whitecaps capture series
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Jack Penney knocked an opposite-field two-run homer and an RBI single to help the West Michigan Whitecaps (21-12) cruise to a 6-2 Mother’s Day victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (18-15) on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps won the final three games of the series,
Elliott homers but Lugnuts fall, 6-3
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Clark Elliott deposited a monstrous home run over onto the roof of a building beyond the right field wall, but Lansing Lugnuts (18-14) dropped a second straight game to the West Michigan Whitecaps (20-12), 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps extended their lead
Whitecaps hold off Lugnuts, 7-6
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam crushed his first home run of the year, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (19-12) rallied past the Lansing Lugnuts (18-13), 7-6, on Friday night at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps retook sole possession of first place in the Midwest League’s East Division with the win.
Echavarria wins first as Nuts tie Caps for 1st
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria tied a career high with 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional victory, and the Lansing Lugnuts (18-12) doubled up the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-12), 4-2, in a Thursday matinee at LMCU Ballpark, tying the Whitecaps for first place in the
Pitcher of the Week Jump immaculate, triumphant in 3-1 win
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Reigning Midwest League Pitcher of the Week Gage Jump added the latest eye-opening performance to a sensational pro debut, recording an immaculate inning amid an eight-inning, eight-strikeout display of unfettered brilliance, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (17-12) to a 3-1 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-11)
Nuts deny no-hitter, fall 2-0
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam broke up a no-hit bid with a two-out single in the eighth, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-10) completed a 2-0 shutout of the Lansing Lugnuts (16-12) on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark. The opener of the six-game series was completed in exactly two
Lugnuts' Jump named MWL Pitcher of the Week
LANSING, Mich. – Lansing Lugnuts pitcher Gage Jump has been named the Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 28-May 4, Minor League Baseball announced Monday afternoon. Jump, 22, allowed only one baserunner, a Jonah Advincula fourth-inning single, in firing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts
Valenzuela delivers rainy walkoff winner in 10th, 1-0
LANSING, Mich. – Sahid Valenzuela slapped a game-winning RBI single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-11) walked off the Lake County Captains (15-12), 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The victory clinched a six-game series split with
After Judkins gem, Caps top Nuts in 9th
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins pitched six scoreless innings, but los Picantes de Lake County (15-11) scored three runs in the ninth to best the Lansing Locos (15-11), 3-1, in a Copa Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. Lake County has won two straight games in the series and enters the
Captains strike early, top Lugs 5-3
LANSING, Mich. – Jaison Chourio lined a two-run single in a three-run rally, and the Lake County Captains (14-11) built a five-run lead and defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (15-10), 5-3, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Caps and Lugnuts have split the first four games of the six-game series.
Jump nearly perfect in 5-0 rain-shortened win
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (15-9) jumped out to a quick lead, Cole Conn and Tommy White homered, and Gage Jump turned in his latest dominating performance in a 5-0 rain-shortened victory over the Lake County Captains (13-11) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The game was delayed twice,
Robinson schools Captains in 5-2 Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – In the first Grand Slam School Day of the season, Kyle Robinson twirled six hitless innings while Clark Elliott homered and drilled a two-run single to help the Lansing Lugnuts (14-9) beat the Lake County Captains (13-10), 5-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Jackson® Field™. In the