Jackson Cluff Chases MLB Dream with Mets After Unique Journey

In the midst of Francisco Lindor’s hamate injury, which has sidelined the star shortstop this spring, Jackson Cluff has seized a rare opportunity to showcase his skills. The 29-year-old, a career minor leaguer, made a standout play on Friday in Jupiter, Florida, diving deep into the hole for a grounder and delivering a strong throw to first base, earning applause for one of the best defensive plays of the spring.

While Cluff is projected to serve as minor league depth, his journey to Queens is not entirely out of the question. His path to professional baseball has been anything but conventional, having spent significant time in Triple-A without yet making his major league debut.

A practicing Mormon, Cluff played at Brigham Young University before taking a two-year hiatus from both school and baseball to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This decision, while not mandatory, is often expected among active members of his faith. “You don’t have to do it, but for people who grow up and are active in the faith, it’s an expectation if you’re asked,” Cluff explained. “My dad did it and my little brother is on a mission right now. Most people do it.”

Initially uncertain about his decision, Cluff ultimately felt confident in taking time away from baseball. “I decided it was something I wanted to do and put my career on pause for two years,” he said. “Everyone was very supportive, saying, ‘You need to do what you want to do.’”

During his mission, Cluff was assigned to Atlanta, a choice that surprised him given the exotic locations some of his peers were sent to. “You should have seen the look on my face when I found out where I was going,” he recalled with a smile. “My dad went to Norway and learned Norwegian. My father-in-law went to Japan. I had teammates go to Mexico and Brazil. But I went to Atlanta, and it was awesome.”

His mission work involved proselytizing and community service, where he spent time engaging with locals. “We knock on doors and walk around town,” Cluff shared. “You get on a bus in Atlanta and talk to people.”

Upon completing his mission, Cluff returned to BYU, now a 22-year-old sophomore. “I wanted to play one more year, and it was really important to have a good season because I wanted to play professionally,” he said, emphasizing the competitive nature of the draft process. Cluff responded with an impressive season, leading to a sixth-round selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2019 amateur draft. “I told every team, ‘If you pick me, I’ll go,’” he recalled.

Unfortunately, Cluff’s first full professional season was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he persevered, eventually reaching Triple-A in 2024, where he spent the entirety of last season. His aspirations for the current year are clear: “help this team win games at the big league level at some point this season.”

Cluff is aware of the challenges posed by the Mets’ infield depth, yet he remains grateful for his journey. “The only time my religion comes up in the clubhouse is when people ask if I really took two years off,” he noted. “I don’t have any regrets. How the mission impacted me personally and helped my faith and perspective on life is much more important than baseball. It’s given me so much direction.”

As he continues to chase his major league dream, Cluff remains optimistic. “As long as I have a jersey on my back, anything is possible,” he said, embodying the determination that has fueled his journey thus far.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.