The New York Yankees drafted shortstop Core Jackson, who made headlines in 2021 for drawing a swastika on a Jewish student’s dorm room door as a freshman at the University of Nebraska. Jackson voluntarily informed teams about the incident and has since spoken out about his remorse and efforts to learn from it.
Jackson said he was “blackout drunk” when he drew the swastika, which is a symbol associated with the Nazi party, and doesn’t remember the incident or why he did it. He acknowledged that his actions were a “really stupid mistake” and has since learned and grown from it.
The Yankees’ decision to draft Jackson followed a thorough investigation into his past, with multiple team members discussing the situation with him and high-ranking Jewish members of the organization. The team also consulted with experts on antisemitism and worked with a graduate student who designed a five-week course for Jackson to educate himself about the issue.
Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer said the team was looking for someone who had “grown from his mistake” and demonstrated accountability, and that they believe Jackson has made progress in understanding the impact of his actions. The Yankees drafted Jackson at No. 164 overall, signing him to a bonus of $147,500.
Jackson’s agent, Blake Corosky, initially considered not advising him after the incident came to light, but ultimately agreed to continue working with him on two conditions: that Jackson call each MLB team to describe what happened and work with Steinmetz to understand why his actions were hurtful. Most scouts praised Jackson for being candid about his past.
The Yankees’ decision has sparked debate about how teams should handle players who have made antisemitic incidents in the past, with some arguing that it’s essential to educate them on their mistakes rather than punishing them too harshly. The team’s approach has been praised by experts as a positive step towards promoting understanding and awareness of antisemitism.
Jackson is set to start his minor league career with the High-A Hudson Valley Yankees, where he has impressed coaches with his baseball skills. He hopes that by sharing his story, he can help others understand the impact of hate speech and promote forgiveness.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6563252/2025/08/20/yankees-prospect-swastika-core-jackson-2025-mlb-draft