The CBB continues our countdown to the 2009 College Baseball season with the Top 50 players to watch in the season. We will be providing one player each day (Monday-Saturday) until we reach number 1. We continue our list today with junior outfielder Brett Jackson of California.
The Orinda California native attended Miramonte High School where he led the school to two straight North Coast Section titles. His senior campaign saw him hit ,385 with seven doubles, six triples, four home runs, and 36 RBI. He ended up being selected as a two-time Puma Preseason All-American while being named by Team One as one of the Top 10 West players.
Jackson’s freshman campaign in 2007 saw him play in only limited action. He finished the season with a .230 average in only 61 at bats in 43 games as he was used as a defensive replacement. He spent the summer of 2007 with the La Crosse Loggers. Jackson finished that summer hitting .343 as he showed he is a five tool prospect.
Jackson started getting regular time on the field during his sophomore season in 2008. He ended up playing in 56 games accumulating a .307 average with four homers and 40 RBI. He finished eighth in the Pac-10 with 12 stolen bases on the year. He picked up honorable mention in the Pac-10 conference after last season.
Jackson played the summer of 2008 in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Cotuit Kettleers. He ended up playing in 40 games with a .238 average with four homers and 14 RBI. He ended up picking up 24 walks on the year as he showed discipline at the plate. He also grabbed eight stolen bases on the year.
We know that Jackson’s numbers are a little low but he ended up being named the eighth best prospect in the prestigious Cape Cod League. He has shown some flashes of brillance and if he becomes more consistent by hitting for average, he should be one of the better players on the west coast and possibly in the country.
You can check out our Top 50 by clicking here.
13 comments
This article fails to mention that Jackson hit .343 in the summer of 2007 playing for the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League. This guy has all the makeup to be a legitimate 5-tool threat.
Thanks for the info Louie…I have added it now.
Right now he is all tools, which I like, but his inconsistency and strruggles with the bat at times, is what worries me.
Good, good player, but way too high at 13.
Just another reason to totally scratch ones head on this listing. This guy may have the tools to project well in the draft and the pros, but….he’s done absolutely nothing on the field in either D-I level action or Summer league to warrant a ranking in the Top 30 – 40 College Players. If you want to call your list a prospect listing, then perhaps he would make the Top 50, but what has he ever done to deserve such a high ranking.
I can name 4 returning position players at Rice that have put up far superior number than Jackson, and are very likely to do the same in the ’09 season.
Really, done nothing…Just ranked the 7th best prospect last summer in the Cape…I guess that is nothing.
Have you seen him play Walt? I don’t think so! I have seen him play and he is a five tool player that will be picked pretty high in the draft.
Brian, he might have been ranked by BA as the 7th best PROSPECT in the Cape, but with a .238 AVG, he most certainly was NOT one of the better players, performance-wise, in the Cape this past Summer. And while his tools may get him drafted relatively high in the draft, that does NOT make him one of the elite college players. Per the comment in your article, his numbers have not be simply “somewhat low”; they have been very low. Bottomline, regardless to the tools that he may possess, and how he is projected, he has yet to come close– or even show a glimmer– of his projected potential. To rank him in a Top 50 college players– let alone a Top 15– based on what he’s been able to demonstrate on the field (so far) is ludicrous.
He may be a 5-tool player, but he has performed no better than an average college player on the field.
Walt-
You might not of seen him play at Cal but he hit .300 plus there and .330 in the Pac 10. I saw him hit a grand slam off Ryan Perry that went went over a wall and hit a soccer field. He broke 3 records in Lacrosse in the NWL in 2007 which is a “college baseball league”
http://www.lacrosseloggers.com/content/team/record_book
He was the lead off player for Cotuit last summer that made the championship despite losing 4 starters. Bret was 4th in the league in runs scored.
As for your metal bat college game comment. He made all PAC 10 second team.
I believe there are lots of great CF out there but tell us about them and the last 3 seasons of ball that are better in a better league.
How many times have I told you Walt that these are MY projected Top 50 players!
I have to agree with Brian Foley’s assessment of Brett Jackson. I attended 90% of the Cotuit games this summer and he is a very skilled player. He was hampered with an injured wrist the majority of the summer which negatively impacted his statistics. He was however a a true gamer. I also got to know him some over the summer personally and he is great young man. Part of any player assessment beyond the physical skills has to take into account his make up. Brett’s make up is off the charts!
He will definitely be in my top 35 or so. He is a stud and way too talented to leave out of a top 50. A large part of a top 50 list is what the listmaker thinks that player WILL DO this year or in the near future. If Brian thinks Jackson is due o break-out with a huge year, then he will rank him higher so he gets noticed. Thats just how it works.
I have had the pleasure of watching Brett play from T-ball to College. He has been a winner at ever level. He is a first class kid, that comes from a first class family. He has had his critics throughout his bball career and has proved them all wrong, and he will prove his doubters wrong again.
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