Alex Jackson

Jackson spent all 2023 in Triple-A, first with Triple-A Nashville, and then with Triple-A Durham after the Brewers exchanged minor leaguers with the Rays who sent Evan McKendry to the Milwaukee organization. Jackson has spent parts of four seasons in the majors, with his longest stint in 2021 when he posted an anemic .488 OPS in 52 games. Last season in 59 combined games, Jackson recorded a .902 OPS, which impressed the Rays enough to bring him back on a minor league deal. Jackson missed the final month of the season with a shoulder injury, but he's slated to challenge for a job behind the plate with the Rays. If he makes the club, Jackson is only in play in AL-only formats using two catchers, and even then, there are probably better options.

Despite having just four games of big-league experience under his belt, Jackson got the Opening Day start behind the plate for Atlanta in 2020 with both Travis d'Arnaud and Tyler Flowers unavailable at the time. His stay with the major-league team did not last long and Jackson ended up logging just seven at-bats across four separate stints in the majors. He finally got on the board with his first two MLB hits and Jackson is still just 25 years old -- even if he feels like 35 after busting as the sixth overall pick by Seattle in 2014. He moved from the corner outfield back to catcher after a trade to Atlanta in 2016. He's not bad back there and right now he's in the running to be d'Arnaud's backup. The team will likely want to limit Jackson's exposure if he is on the roster.

Jackson made his big-league debut in 2019 but is yet to record his first big-league hit, as he went 0-for-13 in his four-game audition. In a larger, 85-game sample with Triple-A Gwinnett, he posted a lopsided but productive .229/.313/.533 slash line. He showed considerable power, hitting 28 homers, but couldn't shake his swing-and-miss issues, striking out 34.2% of the time. Still, the combination of strengths and weaknesses should be enough to clear the low offensive bar at the catcher position. There remains the risk that Jackson's strikeout woes would tick up to an untenable level over a larger stretch in the big leagues, however, and a competitive team like the Braves may not want to take that risk with proven options in place ahead of him in Travis d'Arnaud and Tyler Flowers. If he winds up on team with starts available behind the plate, though, his power would make him worth a deep-league gamble.

He has only logged 30 games at Double-A and another 20 games in the Arizona Fall League, but Jackson's bat already projects to be at least average for his position. That position is now catcher, as he was moved back to his high school position after Seattle gave up on him as an outfielder and traded him to Atlanta after the 2016 season. The sixth overall pick in 2014, Jackson still possesses the plus raw power that led to his lofty draft slot. There is plenty of swing-and-miss in his game (26.7 percent strikeout rate at Double-A), and that might preclude him from profiling as a regular if he still played the outfield. However, he could hit .250, blast 20-plus home runs and strike out 30 percent of the time and finish the year as a top-10 offensive catcher. His defense is a work in progress, but as that's the only place his bat will play, he will be given a long leash to improve behind the dish. He could reach the majors in 2019.

Jackson's standing in the Mariners organization crumbled in just over 30 months as he failed to endear himself to GM Jerry Dipoto (who took over in 2015). Drafted sixth overall in 2014 -- ahead of the likes of Trea Turner, Michael Conforto and Aaron Nola -- Jackson was held back in extended spring training in his third professional season. After being turned loose in late May, Jackson mostly underwhelmed with Low-A Clinton with a 27 percent strikeout rate overshadowing the few positives. He's still just 21 but the M's lost patience and flipped Jackson to the Braves in November. The Braves asked Jackson if he'd consider a return to catcher, his primary position in high school, but there has been no clarification on that front as of press time. Of course, a return behind the plate would change a multitude of factors, but right now, it's hard to make a case for Jackson as a worthwhile stash.

The sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft was believed to have the most offensive upside of any hitter in that class, but he has been unable to gain much momentum in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Last season, Jackson dealt with injuries to his shoulder and hand and was subsequently going back-and-forth all year between Low-A Clinton, short-season Everett and extended spring training. When he was in the Midwest League the results were not pretty, though the results were a bit more encouraging in the Northwest Leagues with Everett. While Jackson still has plenty of power and batting average upside, he is forever away from the big leagues and carries as much risk as any hitter who will be ranked as a top-200 prospect for dynasty leagues.

Drafted sixth overall by the Mariners in June, Jackson was considered to be the top prep bat in the 2014 draft class. He projects to have plus right-handed power, and he has a plus arm that the Mariners hope to utilize in right field down the road. Jackson has good bat speed and strength at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, which should only improve as he develops and fills out. Jackson fractured a cheek bone trying to make a catch last summer in rookie ball, but he returned to finish his pro debut with an .820 OPS. He is at least a couple years away, but keeper leagues should make the investment now, if they haven't already.