june 21 must know prospect: drew jackson

By Julian Mininsohn @jmininsohn

Organization: Seattle Mariners
Current Team: Bakersfield Blaze
College: Stanford University
Drafted: 2012; 37th Round No. 155 Overall

In today’s game of baseball players are expected to do a bit of everything. You can’t just be a one-trick pony. So how does someone get Northwest League MVP with just two homeruns? Bakersfield Blaze shortstop Drew Jackson proves you can be a top –tier prospect without just power hitting. 

Strengths: Nowadays, it’s about manufacturing runs. In his first season in the Northwest League Jackson tallied an impressive .358/.432/.447 with 156 wRC+ and 47 stolen bases. In his two minor league seasons, the shortstop has an outstanding .312 average with 52 RBI’s, 53 BB’s and 53 stolen bases. He’s the ideal new-age shortstop combination of average and speed. Not to mention he has a .956 fielding percentage in the field. Jackson is an all-around player with value in multiple aspects.
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Comparisons: With the moxi behind-the-plate, wheels on the base pads and range in the field, Jackson could be comparable to Alcides Escobar of the 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals. Escobar could be placed at any spot in the lineup and produce. In addition, he is a threat while on base and has savviness on the defensive side of the ball. However, you can’t teach experience, which Jackson needs more of. Although not as polished as others, Jackson is a rising prospect that baseball heads should pay attention to in the future.