The Yankees outfield of the future is beginning to get a bit crowded. With Melky Cabrera already a fixture of the future in CF for the Yankees and stud prospect Jose Tabata on the way, the Yankees will have little need to sign a big time outfielder in the foreseeable future. Not to be overlooked is yet another rising outfield star in the Yankees system, Austin Jackson. Jackson was drafted by the Yankees in the 8th round of the 2005 draft out of high school and he is a 6’1, 205 lb right handed hitting center fielder. The 20 year old was not expected to sign with the Yankees when they drafted him, as he was a highly touted basketball prospect as well (a 4 star guard from rivals.com) and already was offered a full scholarship to play basketball at Georgia Tech. However, like many other young multi sport athletes, Jackson chose baseball and began the 2005 season with the GCL Yankees. He hit .304 in 2005 and in his first extended play in 2006 with single A Charleston, Jackson hit only .258 but stole 36 bases. Jackson has hit .283 overall in his minor league career with 17 HR’s, 120 RBI’s, and 79 SB’s in 1176 at bats and is showing the signs of a 5 tool player. Jackson has above average defense in center, an above average arm and speed but not amazingly so in any of those categories. The biggest concern with Jackson should be his strikeouts, as he struck out an astounding 152 times in 2006 as opposed to only 60 walks.
Austin Jackson is still a very raw talent, as he was not focused 100% on baseball until he was drafted by the Yankees. Now that basketball is out of the picture, Jackson should continue to improve and has the potential to be a Tori Hunter type hitter but with less defensive skills. A few all star appearances are not out of the question. Jackson did strike out 51 times less in 2007 then in 2006 so it is a promising sign of his development. At only 20 years old, Jackson appeared in three games for the double AA Trenton, but did not bat. As noted earlier, the Yankees young outfield is becoming crowded and with the veterans blocking him and Jose Tabata ahead of him in the pecking order, Jackson may have to wait awhile before receiving an extended look from the Yankees. Since the Yankees have no need to rush Jackson, he may begin the 2008 season in single A Tampa, but they could be aggressive and start him in Trenton. Either way, he’s likely to finish the year in Trenton and is unlikely to see the big leagues before 2009 at the very earliest.
Austin Jackson is still a very raw talent, as he was not focused 100% on baseball until he was drafted by the Yankees. Now that basketball is out of the picture, Jackson should continue to improve and has the potential to be a Tori Hunter type hitter but with less defensive skills. A few all star appearances are not out of the question. Jackson did strike out 51 times less in 2007 then in 2006 so it is a promising sign of his development. At only 20 years old, Jackson appeared in three games for the double AA Trenton, but did not bat. As noted earlier, the Yankees young outfield is becoming crowded and with the veterans blocking him and Jose Tabata ahead of him in the pecking order, Jackson may have to wait awhile before receiving an extended look from the Yankees. Since the Yankees have no need to rush Jackson, he may begin the 2008 season in single A Tampa, but they could be aggressive and start him in Trenton. Either way, he’s likely to finish the year in Trenton and is unlikely to see the big leagues before 2009 at the very earliest.
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