Brett Jackson has been the top Cubs prospect since Starlin Castro moved to the majors early in 2010. He was ranked the #32 prospect in baseball after tearing through the minors all the way up to a mid-summer callup to Iowa last season. His plate discipline has disappointed this season and he's struggled to just a .238 BA. OBP will probably be the most telltale sign of callup time, as he'll need to be a .350+ OBP player to stick in the top few spots in the big league order.
The rub on Jackson is that although he's a five-tool player, none of those five tools reach into the greatness categories. He has the potential to be a 20 HR hitter in the majors, but will likely never make it above a .280 average without significant changes in his plate approach. His defense is probably near the level of a Tony Campana in center minus the plus-plus speed, though he does have 69 steals in 90 attempts for his minor league career. Another decision for Jackson may indeed be his position, as he has the arm to play the corner outfield spots but the Cubs have to decide if the value is there in his average power to stick him in right for the extended future.
Likeliest Scenario: Jackson probably has the clearer route to the Cubs everyday lineup versus Anthony Rizzo with just future pinch-runner Tony Campana and pinch-hitting lifer Reed Johnson sitting in center at Wrigley this summer. He probably warrants the remainder of the summer (at least) in Iowa to work up his on-base percentage and may have to wait until a late spring callup in 2013 should the Cubs choose to delay his arbitration clock another year.
Cubs Contracts and Callups
Brett Jackson
I think Jackson will be a September call up and start next year if he does ok up and raises his average in the minors
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