Bergman Looking To Follow In Father's Footsteps

BRYAN - Jackson Bergman certainly has the size and the pedigree. The Hicksville senior also has a college home after receiving an offer and making a commitment to the University of Toledo.

“They like my big frame and that I’m very projectable,” noted the 6-5 208-pounder, whose father Sean pitched in the major leagues for seven years with five different organizations after being selected in the 1991 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. “I feel I have a big body and could grow into it after I get in the weight room and start working out.”

Interest from the next level heated up this summer.

“The first time they talked with me was after the PBR showcase in Cincinnati,” Bergman said in reference to the Ohio Top Prospect Games in June. “Three days later they called and said they were interested and said they wanted to see me play some time. After that we didn’t talk much until they saw me in Pennsylvania.”

That was at the Northeast Senior Games where Bergman had the top curveball at 78 to go along with a 79 mile-an-hour slider and fastball that topped at 85.

“I got a call the next day and they wanted me to come on a visit,” Bergman reflected. “I went on a visit and they showed me the practice facilities and ended up offering me.”

Prior to summer interest was, admittedly, minimal, according to the Hicksville product.

“I had talked to BG a little and some smaller schools like Adrian,” Bergman noted.

But intrigue in Bergman picked up after a strong performance at the Ohio TPG.

“A guy we think still has another jump left in there,” Jordan Chiero, PBR Ohio Director of Scouting, said after the event. “A 6-5 well-above-average athlete who showed sharp present stuff, with the ability to fill up the zone consistently. As he continues to fill out that long-limbed frame expect additional velo to a pitch that already gets on hitters quickly considering his length/mid-80s velocity. High ceiling here.”

It only improved after the August performance in Pennsylvania.

“Very impressive showing, a guy who definitely rose his stock from the event,” was the report about Bergman on the PBR website. “Combination of upside and present skill set will get the attention of scouts. He is 6-5 with mid-80s velocity and the top-graded breaking ball we saw from the Ohio squad.”

The idea of playing at the next level has been there for some time, but only became realistic recently, according to Bergman.

“I’ve always wanted to play college baseball since I started, but this past junior year is when I really decided I wanted to go play,” Bergman explained. “At the end of spring season I started to realize I was pitching pretty well and getting people out. I pitched well for the legion this summer and thought this was something I could do.”

An improved game has found Bergman going from throwing 16 innings with a 6.00 ERA as a freshman  touching 77 to a junior fanning 90 in 58 innings while sitting mid-80s.

“I gained weight which helped my velocity,” noted Bergman, who went from 170 pounds as a ninth grader to 208 now.

Help came from his father, who pitched for the Tigers, Padres, Astros, Braves and Twins from 1993-2000 after a three-year stint at Southern Illinois University.

“My dad gives me lessons and has really helped with my mechanics,” Bergman said. “He was the same as me, he didn’t throw that hard in high school but then did in college. He said I’d throw harder when I got older, to just keep working.”

There has been additional assistance along the way to get to the point of being a Division I commit.

“My travel coach Chad Donsbach with the Napoleon River Bandits and my high school coach Tim Shock have really helped,” Bergman said. “Joe Robinson, my travel coach at the end of my freshman year, also helped. He told me how to get recruited and to go to PBR things.

“Dylan Hefflinger with PBR also was big in getting me in showcases,” Bergman added in reference to the northwest Ohio scout with the organization. PBR was really big in all of this. That’s where I got all the attention from colleges. It was one of the bigger parts of my recruitment.”

A three-sport athlete in high school (baseball, football and basketball), the 4.0 student with a 29 ACT feels his future at Toledo, which is located a little more than an hour from home, will be bright.

“Playing three sports now I can’t just focus on one,” pointed out Bergman, who plans to be a pre-med major at the Mid-American Conference school. “Once I’m just playing baseball I hope to have better stuff and have them develop me more.”