In the final days approaching the MLB Amateur Draft, the buzz surrounding Cal center fielder Brett Jackson increasingly began to pair his name with the New York Yankees. But when the Yankees drafted Texas high schooler Zachary Heathcott with the 29th pick, it opened the door for another team:

The Chicago Cubs.

With the 31st pick in the Draft, the Cubs took Jackson. This is the second consecutive year the Bears have had a player picked in the first round (Last year, first baseman David Cooper was taken 17th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays).

The lefty center fielder played 152 games in three years for the Bears. This past season, Jackson hit a career-best .321 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases.

During his collegiate career, Jackson earned first-team all-Pac-10 honors as a junior and was named the eighth-best player in the Cape Cod League last summer.

While at Cal, Jackson recorded a .303 batting average, 85 RBI and 12 home runs.

Although his career numbers aren't the most impressive compared to other first-round draft picks, Jackson is balanced by his high ceiling: Scouts have been touting his tools and potential since the beginning of the season, and Jackson is expected to stabilize offensively to provide the Cubs with an everyday option in the outfield.

Although Jackson was the Bears' only first round pick, the program didn't have to wait long before a few more Cal names were called.

With the first pick of the second round (50th overall), junior second baseman Jeff Kobernus was taken by the Washington Nationals.

Kobernus hit .324 in his three years with the Bears, knocking in 89 while stealing 44 bases. He was an all-American his freshman year and just earned first team all-Pac-10 honors.

Kobernus joins a Nationals draft class that also includes No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg -- a pitcher from San Diego State who has been referred to by some scouts as the best-ever pitching prospect -- and Stanford reliever Drew Storen.

Six picks after Kobernus, utility player Blake Smith was snatched up by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Smith spent most of 2009 contributing his powerful bat to the lineup as a designated hitter or first baseman because of a mid-season lat injury, but the righty is expected to pitch at the next level.

In three seasons, Smith has a 4.63 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings pitched.

At the plate, he's hit 28 home runs and driven in 111 in his three years at Cal.

Check back at dailycal.org for more draft coverage, and pick up the print version of the paper next Monday for a full recap of how the Bears did in the 2009 MLB Draft.

Tags: BLAKE SMITH, CAL BASEBALL, BRETT JACKSON, JEFF KOBERNUS, MLB AMATEUR DRAFT