2004 Will Be an Important Year for Nic Jackson
Rooftop Report links to a compilation of top prospects lists, and lists Cubs in the top 599 prospects in baseball. Angel Guzman, to no surprise, is the top Cub at #37 (and would likely be higher if he had been injury-free).
Looking at the bottom of the list, we see outfielder Nic Jackson. At #585. In other words, Jackson’s prospects aren’t good. 2004 is going to be an important year for Jackson.
As everyone knows, the Cubs have little in the way of position prospects. Jackson is one of the few who conceivably counts as a legitimate prospect. He at least counts in the eyes of the Cubs brass. As the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan wrote in today’s paper, “[Jim] Hendry believes up-and-coming outfield prospects Jason Dubois and Nic Jackson, second baseman Brendan Harris and pitchers like [Sergio] Mitre, [Todd] Wellemeyer and Angel Guzman will keep the farm system pipeline running smoothly for years to come.” Jackson’s name is mentioned among the best prospects the Cubs have to offer in the high minors.
Jackson is in the big league spring training camp this spring, and MLB.com recently quoted him as saying, “Everybody wants to make the team. . . . I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ll just wait and see like everybody else.” As much as Jackson would like to make the team this year, the days of Jackson playing in Wrigley Field have not yet arrived. Even if a position player roster spot was open, which there isn’t, Jackson needs to play everyday instead of sitting on the bench in Chicago. And how Jackson, who is 24, fairs at Iowa this year will tell the Cubs a lot about Jackson’s ability to help the big league club in the future.
The Cubs drafted Jackson in the 3rd round of the 2000 draft. In 2001, as a 21-year-old, he was a Florida State League All-Star with high-A Dayton, hitting .296/.355/.493, including 19 homers and 24 stolen bases. Despite an injury-riddled 2002 season with West Tennessee, the Cubs promoted him to Iowa for the entirety of 2003. Unfortunately, he hit only .253/.315/.384, with a 102/35 K/BB ratio.
Jackson is a tools guy, and he simply looks like a ballplayer. That is no doubt a significant reason why the Cubs (and many Cubs fans) have been so high on him for the past few years (not Corey Patterson high, but high). But the tools must translate into production. Given his minor league production, it’s unreasonable to expect Jackson to develop into a major league star. But he needs to play well at Iowa this year to provide evidence that he’ll be a servicable major league outfielder, and not another Scott Bullett or Terrell Lowery.