Forgotten former Pirates reliever hits the first pitcher home run we've seen in ages

It's been nearly four years since we last saw a pitcher not named Shohei Ohtani hit a home run in an MLB game.

Logan Webb's two-run shot in the San Francisco Giants' 2021 regular season finale against the San Diego Padres became the last such occurrence before the universal DH rule went into effect across both leagues, ending the decades-long tradition of historic pitcher home runs and other rare hitting moments by hurlers.

The universal DH rule hasn't yet made it to Japan, however, where pitchers still bat for themselves in NPB's Central League. For that reason, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Andre Jackson made headlines this week for hitting the first home run by an NPB pitcher in 2025.

It was Jackson’s first home run since he hit two for the Kelowna Falcons in British Columbia in the West Coast League, a collegiate summer league, as a 19-year-old in 2015 in between his freshman and sophomore seasons at the University of Utah.

Jackson has a 2.31 ERA in 21 starts on the mound for Japan’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars this year, his second season in Japan.

Forgotten former Pirates reliever Andre Jackson hits the first pitcher home run we've seen in ages

Designated for assignment and then traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations in June 2023, Jackson was immediately optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to clear space on the 40-man roster. He was recalled in August and ended up filling multiple roles – starter, bulk reliever and swingman – all of which the Pirates needed as they navigated rotation instability late in the season.

Split between starting and long-relief duties, Jackson logged 43 2/3 innings, recorded a 1–3 record and posted a 4.33 ERA through 12 appearances for the Pirates. He held opponents to just a .194 batting average during that span.

The Pirates designated Jackson for assignment in December, marking the end of his MLB tenure. He signed with Yokohama in NPB less than a month later and went 8–7 with a 2.90 ERA while striking out 121 batters in his first season overseas.