The Rangers are going to need some patience with righthander Luke Jackson, but his upside makes it worthwhile. The 20-year-old with low Class A Hickory pulled out of a four-start slump with 6 2/3 dominant innings on Monday, striking out nine and allowing only one run on one hit (a solo homer).

Jackson, a supplemental first-round pick in 2010 from a Florida high school, started the season hot, going 2-0, 1.31 through his first four starts, but then his control deserted him. Jackson didn’t begin focusing on pitching until he got to high school, and the resulting rawness had led to trouble repeating his delivery. He lost four straight starts from April 27 to May 16, during which he walked 15 in 15 2/3 innings and gave up 26 hits. He reversed that trend on Monday, making his longest outing of the year and matching his season-high for strikeouts and improving to 3-4, 5.44 in 43 innings.

BA subscribers can read more on Jackson in this recent Rangers organization report from correspondent Jeff Wilson.