Damian Jackson


‧ Position: Infielder

‧ Height: 5-foot-11

‧ Weight: 185 pounds

‧ Bats: Right

‧ Throws: Right

‧ Age: 30

‧ Acquired: Signed to a minor league contract Jan. 15 after playing last
             season with Boston.

‧ Status: A possibility at second but at least will be a super utility player.

‧ Career highlights: Has been successful on 77 percent of his career stolen
                      base attempts (117 of 151) . . . Ratio of a double play
                      grounder once every 77.7 at-bats is fourth-best among
                      active players with a minimum of 1,500 plate
                      appearances . . . Made his postseason debut last year
                      with Boston. Also has played with Cleveland, San Diego
                      and Detroit.

‧ Personal: Originally signed with Cleveland as a 44th-round draft choice in
             June 1992 out of Laney (Calif.) Junior College . . . Has played
             at least three positions in each of the past five seasons,
             including everything except pitcher and catcher with Boston . . .
             Jackson and his wife, Tana, live in Concord, Calif.

‧ Who had the biggest impact on your career?
             "There have been a few people, to be honest. When I came up with
              Cleveland, it had to be Kenny Lofton. I went to Cincinnati and
              Barry Larkin had a huge impact on my life. When you get a guy
              that's a superstar in the game and goes out of his way for
              someone like me. . . . He was coming off minor surgery, and he'd
              spend so much time with me, talking to me about things to work on
              to get better and the game. When I got to San Diego there was
              Phil Nevin and Trevor Hoffman."