The addition of Anthony Rizzo made the Chicago Cubs from a 105 loss team to a 90-95 loss MLB team. Sure, it’s still the dregs, but bringing up the NL Rookie of the month was still good for a 10-15 game swing. How about the next top prospect out of Iowa?
Brett Jackson is now here.
The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of outfielder Brett Jackson and recalled infielder Josh Vitters from Triple-A Iowa. Outfielder Tony Campana has been optioned to Triple-A.
Both Vitters, who will wear uniform number five, and Jackson, who will wear uniform number seven, join the first major league rosters of their professional careers and will be available for the Cubs this afternoon against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Vitters was selected by the Cubs in the first round (third overall) of the 2007 Draft and Jackson was selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2009 Draft (31st overall).
Jackson, 24, joins the Cubs after batting .256 (104-for-407) with 22 doubles, 12 triples, 15 home runs, 27 stolen bases, 66 runs scored and 47 RBI in 106 games with Iowa this season. The left-handed batter and right-handed thrower posted a .338 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage to contribute to an .817 OPS. Jackson had 49 extra base hits, 47 walks and 158 strikeouts with Iowa this season.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Jackson made his Triple-A debut last season and combined to bat .269 (159-for-592) with 35 doubles, 14 triples, 25 home runs, 33 stolen bases, 105 runs scored and 73 RBI in 154 games with Iowa.
Drafted by the Cubs out of the University of California-Berkeley, Jackson entered the 2012 season, his fourth in the organization, ranked as the club’s top prospect by Baseball America. He is a career .282 hitter (435-for-1,540) with 83 doubles, 34 triples, 55 home runs and 91 stolen bases in 402 minor league games. He is a native of Berkeley.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Chicago Tribune.com, Fox Sports, MSN, Walter Football and Yardbarker
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