Bo Jackson Awarded Royals’ Left-Field Job

Bo Jackson will be the starting left fielder in the Kansas City Royals’ opening game Monday against the Chicago White Sox, General Manager John Schuerholz said.

“We’re not going to put him on the ballclub and not have him play,” Schuerholz said. “That would make no sense at all. It’s safe to assume he’ll be starting in left field Monday afternoon.”

Jackson, the 1986 Heisman Trophy winner and the top overall pick in the 1986 National Football League draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, chose to play baseball for the Royals instead of football. He played 53 minor-league games last season with the Memphis Chicks and was called up to the Royals Sept. 1.

Entering Saturday’s exhibition game against Texas, Jackson was hitting .290, with 3 home runs and 11 runs batted in this spring. He has struck out 22 times in 62 at-bats.

“I’m excited. I can’t wait to get to Kansas City,” Jackson said. “This is the first step. It’s like starting to walk again. You got to take that first step. I’ve taken it.”