Jay Jackson Stats & Scouting Report

IP	26.1
ERA	7.52
WHIP	1.41
BB/9	3.08
SO/9	9.91

Full name Randy Jackson
Born 10/27/1987 in Greenville, SC
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Furman
Debut 09/14/2015
Drafted in the 9th round (281st overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2008 (signed for $90,000).

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Righthander Jay Jackson had a great summer in the Great Lakes League in 2007 and carried that success into this season. He finished 9-2, 3.17 for the Paladins, mixing his low-90s fastball with a solid slider and true downer curveball to overmatch hitters. An athlete on the mound, Jackson also played center field for Furman and hit .336 with eight home runs. Jackson has a solid frame with room to grow and could potentially gain even more velocity on his fastball. He is also developing a changeup that could make him into a true four-pitch threat.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Jackson breezed through his first two pro seasons while zooming to Triple-A, but when Chicago promoted a dozen pitchers from Iowa in 2010, he wasn't one of them. The Cubs moved him to the bullpen in May to prepare him for a possible callup, but when he pitched well and didn't get promoted he went into a funk. His stuff regressed slightly, as did his command, and he posted a 5.70 ERA in his final 20 starts. Jackson works with two fastballs, a low-90s four-seamer that's straight and a high-80s two-seamer with more run than sink. He used to feature two distinct breaking balls, a mid-80s slider and high-70s curveball, but they morphed into a low- 80s slurve for much of last year. His changeup lost effectiveness too. He pitched up in the strike zone too often and got tagged for 20 homers. While Jackson had a disappointing season, he still flashed three average or better pitches and threw strikes as a 22-year-old in Triple-A. He's motivated to catch up to the pitchers who passed him and he still has upside as a possible No. 3 or 4 starter. He'll return to Iowa in 2011, with a trip to Chicago on the horizon if he can improve his stuff and especially his command.
Jackson looks like one of the steals of the 2008 draft after lasting nine rounds and signing for $90,000. A two-way star at Furman, he breezed through his pro debut and opened his first full season in Double-A. His only speed bump came in late July, when he was demoted for violating an unspecified team policy. Jackson has good feel for four pitches that are average or better. His best offering is a fastball ranging from 90-95 mph. His mid-80s slider and high-70s curveball are distinct pitches that rate as above-average at times. He also has an effective changeup. He has a long arm action, but he's so athletic that he repeats his highthree- quarters delivery easily. He's fearless and fields his position well. Jackson sometimes overthrows, costing him command. Because he's not tall, he has to stay on top of his pitches to keep them down in the zone. His changeup lags behind his other pitches and could use refinement. The Cubs believe his indiscretion was a one-time incident, and he responded well, earning a late-season start in Triple-A. Once Jackson throws quality strikes on a more consistent basis, he'll be ready for the big league rotation. He'll probably return to Double-A to start 2010.
The Cubs sought athletic pitchers in the 2008 draft, and Jackson, a two-way star at Furman, fit the bill. He already has blown away expectations for a ninth-round pick since signing for $90,000. He finished his first pro summer in high Class A, where he allowed three runs in five outings, including a victorious playoff start as Daytona won the Florida State League title. Jackson has the chance to have four average-or-better pitches. His two best weapons are a 90-93 mph fastball that reaches 95, and a mid-80s slider with hard bite. He also has an average 75-78 mph curveball and a feel for a changeup. He works quickly and confidently, challenging hitters by pounding the strike zone. Jackson's control is ahead of his command, and his next step will be to refine his ability to locate his pitches within the strike zone. He's not especially tall, so he has to stay on top of his pitches to work in the bottom of the zone. He may not have much projection remaining, but he's not lacking for stuff. In a system short on legitimate starting pitchers, Jackson already has moved near the top of the depth chart. He'll begin 2009 no lower than high Class A and could advance to Double-A before season's end.

Minor League Top Prospects

A two-way player at Furman and a ninth-round pick a year ago, Jackson looks like a steal for the Cubs. Jackson has excellent arm strength and arm speed, sitting at 91-94 mph and touching 95 with his fastball. He shows the ability to spin two breaking balls, a plus curveball in the high 70s and an 83-87 mph slider that grades out as at least average. His changeup is still a work in progress but could become an average pitch down the road. An excellent athlete, Jackson has fairly smooth mechanics but his command still needs work. He has a tendency to overthrow, rather than staying back in his delivery and letting his quick arm take over. He also has a tendency to drop his arm slot, which at 6-foot-1 gives him some issues with his plane to the plate. "He's got a great live arm," an AL scout said. "It's just a matter of him learning how to command it, but not many guys who throw 94-95 at that age can command it yet." Jackson won the SL all-star game, but he was demoted to high Class A in July for failing to comply with team policy. The Cubs promoted him to Triple-A for one start in September, when he gave up one run in six innings.