Battle Ground's Jackson Hotchkiss selected by Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB Draft

Jackson Hotchkiss, a product of the Battle Ground High School Tigers baseball team, was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.

Hotchkiss was drafted 554th overall in the 18th round of 20 of the MLB first-year player draft on Tuesday, July 16.

The first baseman/outfielder, who graduated from Battle Ground High School in June, is already signed to play baseball for the University of Washington. Hotchkiss follows in the footsteps of Isaiah Smith, a Battle Ground grad who was drafted 630th overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2017. He has since retired from the minor league baseball system.

“Hotchkiss turned some heads with a solid performance in the Area Code Games, last year, and he added even more physicality to his 6-foot-3 frame as a senior this spring,” according to Sam Dykstra on MLB.com. “He could add even more raw power as he matures, and there’s hope that he transforms into a classic right fielder in time, though many thought entering the draft his best route was to head to Washington for college.”

In his senior year, the second-ranked recruit in the state of Washington hit .397 with three home runs, four doubles, three triples and 19 RBIs for the Tigers. In the fall of 2023 Hotchkiss signed to play collegiate baseball for the Huskies.

Midseason, Hotchkiss cherished the idea of having a decision come July.

“It’s definitely a blessing. Honestly, ask me a year ago, I would have said it’s never possible,” Hotchkiss said in a previous Reflector article.