Tagged: austin jackson
MOVIN’ ON UP THE LINEUP
Austin Jackson is moving up. Not to the New York Yankees just yet, but through the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup.
After proving he could adjust to Triple-A pitchers with a .360 batting average through the first 29 games of the season, Austin was promoted to the second spot in the SWB order on Sunday night.
Boasting the fifth best batting average in the International league, Austin says his approach at the plate won’t change with the move.
“I think if I start trying to hit the ball out of the park, I think my strikeouts will go up and I won’t be making as much contact,” Jackson told the Scranton Times.
“I think the thing right now is to just keep trying to get hits.”
Jackson’s Season Stats – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
AVG – .342; 2B – 5; 3B – 2; HR – 0; RBI – 13; BB – 16; SO – 33; OPS – .841
JACKSON ON A TEAR
Austin Jackson has been on fire since April 27. The eighth-round selection by the New York Yankees in 2005 is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak.
During that span, Jackson has a .424 batting average, a pair of doubles and six stolen bases.
With Double-A Trenton last season, Jackson had three hitting streaks of at least 10 games.
Jackson’s Season Stats – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
AVG – .383; 2B – 3; 3B – 2; HR – 0; RBI – 12; BB – 9; SO – 21; OPS – .921
JACKSON STILL WAITING FOR HIS TURN
Despite the frail nature of the Yankees lineup these days, Jackson continues to wait patiently for his shot at the majors.
While the injury to Xavier Nagy, opened the door somewhat, it’s been the health issues of the New York arms that are causing the most player movements to the Bronx.
On Sunday, the Yankees promoted RHP Mark Melancon, RHP David Robertson, and INF Angel Berroa from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while migrating RHP Brian Bruney (15-day), RHP Chien-Ming Wang (15-day) and 3B Cody Ransom (60-day) to the disabled list.
Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher continue to patrol the Yankee outfield in rotating shifts.
Jackson’s Season Stats – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
AVG – .354; 2B – 1; 3B – 2; HR – 0; RBI – 10; BB – 6; SO – 15; OPS – .887
JACKSON SCORCHING; McCUTCHEN SURPRISES; AND WIETERS WARMS UP
Austin Jackson (pictured right) – Following a full season of Double-A ball in Trenton, the speedy Jackson is emerging a legitimate competitor for a position in the Yankees outfield.
Last season, Jackson batted .285 with 33 doubles, 5 triples, 9 HR, 69 RBIs and 19 SB in 131 games, leading Trenton in hits (148), doubles, stolen bases and RBIs. His named appeared at the top of the Double-A stats charts in several categories, including at-bats (second), hits (third) and doubles (fourth).
As is his nature, Jackson hasn’t slowed down any in 2009, despite a promotion to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. In his first seven starts, the Denton, TX native is 12/25 (.480) at the plate, has driven in six runs and stolen seven bases. His versatility could assist his chances of being called-up to the Yankees, as he has spent time patrolling both center and right field this season.
Jackson’s Season Stats – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
AVG – .480; 2B – 0; 3B – 1; HR – 0; RBI – 6; BB – 5; SO – 7; OPS – 1.123
Andrew McCutchen – The Pittsburgh Pirates expected their prize center field prospect to have his bags packed and ready for a trip to their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis as soon as the doors closed on spring training. Boy, were they surprised. McCutcheon did everything in his power, including six hits in his final six at bats, to convince Pittsburgh he was ready for a chance at the show. In the end, he’s still being reassigned. But an impression was certainly made on the Pirates staff.
“In Andrew’s case, we probably thought it was a much-later-in-the-summer-type progress,” general manager Neal Huntington told MLB.com. “Andrew still had a lot of things to tick off on that checklist. But he’s beginning to check them off a lot quicker than anticipated. The checklist is getting shorter.”
McCutchen continued his hot streak for Indianapolis with three multi-hit games in his first seven games and first-inning triples in back-to-back starts.
McCutchen’s Season Stats – Indianapolis (Triple-A)
AVG – .281; 2B – 2; 3B – 3; HR – 0; RBI – 1; BB – 4; SO – 3; OPS – .892
Matt Wieters – As expected, the Baltimore Orioles assigned their start prospect to their Triple-A affiliate (Norfolk Tides) to start the season. Wieters return to the minors didn’t start the way he had invisioned. Held without a hit in his first two games of the season (0-7), Wieters rebounded by hitting .363 in his next three.
Wieters Season Stats – Norfolk (Triple-A)
AVG – .222; 2B – 0; 3B – 0; HR – 0; RBI – 0; BB – 4; SO – 7; OPS – .586
New Era Presents the Call-Up 