Bo Jackson to Start for Royals on Opening Day

Bo Jackson was named Monday by Manager John Wathan to start in left field for the Kansas City Royals on opening day.

Jackson, the former Heisman Trophy winner who rushed for 584 yards for the Raiders last season after joining them at the end of the baseball season, won the job on his performance this spring.

In 57 spring at-bats, Jackson is hitting .298 with a club-leading 5 home runs and 12 runs batted in and 22 strikeouts.

He also leads the club with 14 runs scored and has one double and two triples. He has made five errors.

Jackson started strongly last season before fading after the All-Star break amid the hoopla created by his announcement that he would attempt to play football and baseball. Royal management was criticized by some players for allowing Jackson to sign with the Raiders, and the Royals’ expected stretch drive under Wathan never materialized.

Jackson finished with an average of .235 with 22 homers. He struck out 158 times in 396 at-bats, and the Royals were considering sending him to Omaha, balking only because they thought that might make him turn full time to football.

This spring, Jackson beat out rookie Gary Thurman, who took over for him last September and batted .296 in 27 games. But he hit just .185 this spring.