One swing at a time: GU graduate Alex Jackson begins professional entertainment baseball journey

Published: June 06, 2026

Author: Liz Dowell

For recent Greenville University graduate Alex Jackson '26, the dream of playing professional baseball did not arrive all at once. It came through years of practice, persistence, faith, and a willingness to keep going even when others doubted him.

Now, after graduating from GU, Jackson is stepping onto the field as a member of the Chicago Snowballs, a newly launched entertainment baseball team traveling throughout the Midwest.

Jackson's debut as a Snowball was on May 23 at The Corn Crib— a baseball stadium in Normal, Ill. that has hosted games since its opening in May of 2010.

His first game marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Sports Management major and Business Management minor, who said Greenville helped prepare him for far more than athletics alone.

"Greenville helped shape who I am, both on and off the field," Jackson said. "My faith is a huge part of my life, and I grew deeper into it with my time in Greenville. Greenville has helped me remember that I am bigger than my sport and I have a deeper calling."

Jackson first connected with the Chicago Snowballs after applying and trying out for the team in January. Though he initially returned to Greenville to complete his final semester, he remained in contact with the organization throughout the spring season.

After graduating, he returned for another tryout before officially signing up with the team a week later.

Joining a brand-new organization has brought excitement and opportunity.

"I am blessed and thankful for the opportunity," Jackson said. "It is really cool to not only be a part of the Snowballs, but to be one of the players to start it up."

The Chicago Snowballs combine baseball with entertainment, creating a fast-paced atmosphere that includes choreography, crowd interaction, and trick plays alongside competitive baseball.

Jackson, who primarily plays outfield, said he especially enjoys running down fly balls and throwing runners out on the bases. More recently, he has also embraced the team's entertainment side.

"This is entertainment baseball, so we dance… a lot," Jackson said with a laugh. "And I'm not the best dancer, so I'm trying to learn how to become a lot better at that."

While baseball remains central to his goals, Jackson also hopes to build a future beyond the field. After his playing career, he hopes to coach at the college or professional level, teach lessons to young athletes, and eventually launch a nonprofit organization to support athletes struggling with mental health.

Jackson's baseball coach from GU, Lynn Carlson, stated that he never had to worry about Jackson's motivation.

"Alex was a very goal-oriented student. He was always very solid in the classroom," Carlson said. "As an athlete, you could say the same things about him. He showed up every day to practice, ready to work on his craft. He didn't take plays off, even in practice. In the offseason, he set goals for himself, created a plan, and worked diligently to execute the plan and accomplish those goals."

As for the sports-entertainment route, Carlson said Jackson had set his goals early in this career path.

"This opportunity he has with the SnowBalls is a result and evidence of his hard work. As a Sport Management major, he has been very aware of the trends specifically as it relates to baseball," said Carlson. "With the growth of Banana Ball and that type of Entertainment-Type Baseball, he targeted that as a potential career path for his last couple of years and has been working towards it. I'm excited to see how far he can take it and to see what other doors this may open for him."

Jackson credits much of his growth to the people he encountered during his time at Greenville University. From teammates and roommates to professors and mentors, he said the support system surrounding him had a lasting impact.

"When I was looking at and visiting other colleges, I kept comparing them all to Greenville," Jackson said. "After I realized I was doing that, I knew where I wanted to call home for the next four years."

Now wearing a professional jersey while carrying Greenville wristbands in his bag, Jackson recognizes that his story reaches beyond himself.

"At our first game, I had a bunch of Greenville wristbands that I collected over my four years, and kids would ask for my wristbands, so I gave a few Greenville ones away," Jackson said. "It is super cool to know that these kids might only know Greenville because of me."

For Jackson, representing Greenville University at the professional level is not simply about baseball. It is about carrying forward the lessons, relationships, and faith that shaped him long before opening day.