PITTSBURGH — Most starting pitchers consider being sent to the bullpen a demotion.

Zach Jackson considers it a resurrection.

The 25-year-old Milwaukee Brewers left-hander and Seneca Valley graduate was floundering as a starter in Triple-A when the organization decided to make him a long relief man.

"When we had Zach down in spring training, he was doing a nice job for us,"said Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash. "He had addressed the concerns we had for him as a starter during the offseason.

"But when we sent him back (to Nashville), he continued to struggle as a starter. Three weeks ago, we decided his best role and opportunity to come to the big leagues was out of the bullpen."

Jackson made a couple of relief appearances in college and his major league debut was a relief outing with Milwaukee in 2006.

Other than that, the 6-foot-5 pitcher has been a starter. He has no problem with the change, however.

"I absolutely love it. I really do,"Jackson said. "The Brewers always saw me as a long relief guy over the long term. The way I started in Triple-A as a starter, there wasn't a better time for the move."

Jackson was 1-3 with an 8.89 ERAin five starts with Nashville this spring, allowing 26 earned runs in 26Z\c innings.

In five relief appearances with the Sounds, he posted a 2.92 ERA, allowing four earned runs in 12Z\c innings.

Two starting pitchers, Chris Capuano and Yovano Gallardo, are on the disabled list. Additional injuries to the club's relief corps forced a shuffling of personnel.

"We've done some juggling, trying to mix and match guys so we can get the best results right now,"Ash said. "Sure enough, an opportunity came and (Jackson) is here."

Veteran catcher Jason Kendall said Jackson might be there for a while.

"He's going to be a good one,"Kendall said. "He'll be up here for a long time. He has a good career ahead of him."

Whether Jackson's future is as a starter or reliever, Kendall said it doesn't matter.

"He has good stuff. He'll figure it out," the catcher said. "You can ask anybody — bullpen or starter, the big leagues is a lot better than the minor leagues."

Ash isn't ruling out Jackson making a spot start or two if another injury or setback further depletes the Brewers' rotation.

"We have him in a middle relief-type role, a multiple-inning role. He's not a left-handed specialist,"Ash said. "He can work two or three innings, get through the lineup one time and not have to worry about doing too much.

"Now Zach can be aggressive, like he was in spring training, pound the strike zone and let his repertoire of pitches work for him."

Jackson insists he's up for any role management decides, but he can't hold back his excitement over going to the bullpen.

"This is like starting over for me. It's a new life. It's night and day. I feel like a totally different pitcher," he said.

He described not having to face the same hitter more than once a night as more suitable for his game.

"I was putting too much pressure on myself as a starter," Jackson said. "Coming out of the wind-up instead of just simplifying everything. ... Keeping a pitch in my back pocket to set up a hitter for the next time I faced him, that kind of stuff really got me.

"Now I don't have to worry about a guy's second or third at-bat against me. My game is being aggressive, doing what I have to to get guys out, putting up zeros when I get the ball. I belong in the bullpen. I enjoy that part of it."

He enjoyed pitching in PNCPark for the first time Thursday night as well.

Jackson made eight appearances with the Brewers in 2006, but was called up just after the team left Pittsburgh and was sent down just before the Brewers returned to his hometown.

"It was pretty special when I was called up in 2006,"he said. "That was an amazing, amazing year for me. I enjoyed that taste of it.

"But the other part of the dream come true for me was playing in Pittsburgh, pitching at PNCPark just one time. This is pretty special."

Jackson did not pitch in Tuesday's or Wednesday's game at PNCPark. He had 52 family members in attendance Tuesday and more than 30 returned Wednesday.

"The support I've gotten from back home has been incredible,"Jackson said.

He had more than 20 supporters in the stands Thursday night when he pitched the seventh and eighth innings. Two infield singles set up a bases-loaded two-run single by Chris Gomez.

Still, Jackson struck out Adam LaRoche with the bases full and picked up three assists in his two innings.

"He was trying to do too much as a starter,"Ash said. "He's a good competitor with a good arsenal of pitches. He's going to be just fine."

• 2001: Posted a 1.40 earned run average in senior year at Seneca Valley High, striking out 84 in 41 innings. Was 23-4 in high school career.• 2001: Selected in 50th round by Chicago White Sox in amateur draft, declined to sign.• 2002: Set freshman record by posting 10 wins at University of Louisville. Had 10-3 record with 4.77 ERA.• 2004: Transferred to Texas A&M, pitched a no-hitter, compiled 10-6 record with 3.54 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 26 walks in 112 innings.• 2004: Selected 32nd overall by Toronto Blue Jays in amateur draft, agreed to contract.• 2005: Compiled 8-1 record with 2.88 ERA, 48 strikeouts, 6 walks at Class ADunedin.• 2005: Had composite 16-8 record with three minor league clubs, tied for most wins in all of minor league baseball.• 2006: After trade to Milwaukee Brewers organization in December 2005, was recalled from Class AAANashville and made major league debut June 4, tossing a perfect inning of relief vs. Washington.• 2006: Compiled 2-2 record with 5.40 ERAin eight games, seven starts, with Brewers, returned to Nashville July 18 when Tomo Ohka came off the disabled list.• 2007: Spent entire season at Nashville, compiling 11-10 record and 4.46 ERAin 28 starts.• 2008: Began season in Nashville as a starter, posting 1-3 record with an 8.89 ERAin five starts before being sent to the bullpen. Posted 2.92 ERA in five relief appearances.• 2008: Recalled by Brewers May 16 as relief pitcher.