Belmont University senior catcher Jackson Campbell has been named a Third Team Division I Preseason All-American by Diamond Sports.
Campbell, who grew up in the Adairville area, is a 2017 graduate of Logan County High School where he was a star catcher on the Cougar baseball team.
In last year’s COVID-shortened season, Campbell hit 6 home runs and drove in 19 in just 56 at-bats. He had 19 hits, including 6 doubles. He drove in 19 runs, scored 14 and walked 10 times. His batting average was .339 and his slugging percentage was .768 with 12 of those 19 hits going for extra bases. On defense he recorded 145 putouts and 18 assists with only 2 errors and a .988 fielding percentage.
Catchers are generally considered not to be as quick as many of their teammates, but Campbell was 5 for 5 on stolen bases and only grounded into a pair of double plays.
To see a list of the entire All-America team, go to http://baseballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2021-NCAA-D-I-Pre-Season-All-American.pdf.
The only catchers in the nation rated above him are first teamer Adrian Del Castillo of Miami and second teamers Henry Davis of Louisville, Hunter Goodman of Memphis and Caleb Bartolero of Troy. Fellow third-team All-American catchers are Luca Tresh of North Carolina State, Sam Praytor of Alabama, Shane McGuire of San Diego, and Zach Presno of Fresno State.
He is one of only Ohio Valley Conference players named Preseason All-Americans. The others are second baseman Daniel Harris of Eastern Kentucky, second baseman Jordan Cozart of Murray State and outfielder Jason Hinchman of Tennessee Tech.
Two of the nation’s premier college baseball programs are located in this area. Louisville has four All-Americans—catcher Davis, third baseman Alex Binelas, reliever Michael Krian and outfielder Levi Usher. Vanderbilt’s roster includes first team All-American pitchers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter.
This what the Belmont Press Guide says about Jackson Campbell’s first three seasons in Nashville.
2020: Reached the top 10 in six offensive categories in the OVC...Hit six home runs, good for 19th in NCAA Baseball in 2020...Listed as one of the 2020 Top Junior Hitters by D1Baseball...Ranked 27th in the final catcher power rankings by D1Baseball...Led the OVC in total putouts with 145...Finished the year with a .339 batting average, leading the team in slugging percentage (.768) and RBIs (19)...Hit his first home run of the season on Feb. 16 against Kansas...Drove in the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Feb. 22 against Evansville, allowing Belmont to take the win in extra innings...Tallied his first multi-RBI game of the season on Feb. 23 against Bradley, also collecting career highs in stolen bases (two), walks (three) and putouts (14)...Scored a career high of four runs on Feb. 28 against UNC Asheville, coming up with three hits and a home run in the process...Had three games on the season where he had two doubles and three hits...Came up with a career high of five RBIs on March 7 at Morehead State, including his third career two-home run outing...Drove in the tying run that same day with his second home run of the game in the top of the ninth inning, allowing Belmont to win in 10 innings.
2019: Named to the Buster Posey Watch List...Started 52 games at catcher, finishing the season with 42 hits, 38 RBIs and co-led the team with eight home runs...One of three players to hit three triples on the season...Given OVC Player of the Week honors on March 4 after coming up with two home runs and six RBIs between Feb. 27-March 2...Recorded nine multi-hit games...Drove in at least two runs in 12 games...Hammered two home runs on Feb. 27 against Southern Illinois, the second time in his career having two home runs in a game...Obtained career-high of three hits twice on March 15 at UT Martin and on April 19 against Murray State...Snagged season high of four RBIs on April 19 against Murray State...Had a career high of 14 putouts on four separate occasions.
2018: Made 18 appearances behind the dish and eight at the designated hitter spot...Earned 20 starts...Scored three runs against Fairleigh Dickinson (2/24)...Had a walk-off double against rival Lipscomb (3/13)...Hit first career home-run against Fairleigh Dickinson (2/24)...Rocketed two home runs and drove in a career-high four against UT-Martin (3/25)...Had a season high of 11 putouts against UT-Martin (3/25)...Had 10 extra-base hits including four home runs on the season.
Prior to Belmont: Played for head coach Ethan Meguiar at Logan County High School.
Personal: Studies Finance at Belmont...Son of Jackson and Jesica Campbell...Has one sister, Jailyn...Born in Springfield, Tenn....Lists greatest sports thrill as playing in Farmington, N.M. at the Connie Mack World Series...Enjoys bass fishing.
Jackson Campbell is also mentioned in a recent Speaking of Sports column on The LoJo about Henry Aaron and Major League Baseball at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=sports1379.