Zach Jackson doesn't know how he got to Detroit, but he's certainly not complaining.

Jackson, a 2001 graduate of Seneca Valley, competed in Sunday's Futures Game at Comerica Park, the site of tonight's baseball All-Star Game.

First, a monster 10-game stint in Class A Dunedin was followed by a promotion to Class AA New Hampshire.

Then, a ticket to Detroit to compete with the top minor league prospects to kick off the All-Star festivities.

"I really don't know how I was picked. I guess I was doing really well," said Jackson, a first-round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays last summer. "The Blue Jays, Baseball America and Major League Baseball, they had the biggest say in it.

"I just hoped for the best and expected the worst. I got a call that said 'You've been selected to represent the Blue Jays.

"It's one of the biggest honors I've had so far," Jackson added.

Jackson, representing the U.S. team against the World Team, pitched the third inning of the game, allowing a solo home run to Shin-Soo Choo.

Choo has played in Class AAA Tacoma and also has had three at-bats for the Seattle Mariners this season. This was his third Futures game.

Jackson struck out one batter and didn't yield a walk. Still, he was charged with the loss in a 4-0 decision.

"I didn't have a scouting report or anything when I was there," said Jackson. "That was the biggest crowd I ever pitched in front of.

"I'm human too. I was nervous and excited. It was tough to get a feel for the ball and locate much. I just threw as hard as I could.

"Those are the best players there. The better the players, the better the hitters. I left a pitch up and he made me pay for it," Jackson added.

That homer couldn't diminish any of the excitement that came from the game.

"It would have been nice to put up a zero, but a lot of positives came out of it," said Jackson.

Jackson started the year at Dunedin in Class A and went 8-1 with a 2.88 ERA, 48 strikeouts and six walks in 59

innings.

He was bumped up to the Class AA Fisher Cats, were he began 2-1 before a pair of losses dropped his record to 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA, but he still has 33 strikeouts and 11 walks in 39 innings.

"Things are going real well, especially in the first four starts," said Jackson. "I had a 1-something ERA, then the coaches wanted to start experimenting. They wanted me to take a step back to go forward to become the whole package.

"My last two starts, they wanted me to go to a fastball and changeup only. I'm not getting the results you want, but it reminds me it's not about results, but putting it all together.

"It's tough to swallow when you look at the line at the end of the day, but it's for the best," he added.

After Sunday, Jackson is hoping the all-star experience will continue his growth through the Blue Jays system.

"Just the way they treated us, with all the perks and all the guys there," said Jackson. "If that's not motivation enough, I don't know what is."