Luke Jackson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #28 prospect in 2017
  Jackson made his big league debut with the Rangers in 2015 but opened 2016 in the Triple-A Round Rock bullpen before getting called up to Texas in May. After returning to Triple-A a month later and bouncing back up to Texas at the end of June, Jackson allowed six runs in 1.2 innings in a July 2 appearance in Minnesota before the Rangers demoted him to Double-A Frisco, where he spent the rest of the season and continued to struggle with his control. The Braves acquired him at the 2016 Winter Meetings in a trade for righthander Tyrell Jenkins and lefthander Brady Feigl. Jackson still has good stuff but doesn't know where it's going. He throws his fastball 93-97 mph and complements it with a sharp-breaking curveball that grades as a tick above-average. He sprinkles in an occasional fringe-average changeup and slider. What's long plagued Jackson is poor control of all of his pitches, which stems from his inability to control his high-effort delivery or repeat his release point. If Jackson can ever learn to throw more strikes, he can be a middle reliever, but he has to find a delivery that allows him to throw quality strikes before the Braves will trust him at the major league level.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #13 prospect in 2016
  Jackson has long tantalized with his stuff, but the results have yet to match. A starter throughout his career, Jackson opened the season in the Triple-A Round Rock rotation, but after five starts in which he allowed 14 runs in 22 1/3 innings, he slid into the bullpen, eventually making his major league debut as a September callup. Jackson's power fastball plays up in short relief stints, sitting at 94-98 mph. He pitches up in the zone, but he needs to be able to pitch down in the zone with his fastball more effectively and improve his overall command. Jackson mostly works off his fastball and 77-82 mph curveball. The breaking ball has sharp bite, but hitters recognize the pitch early out of his hand, so they're able to lay off and avoid swings-and-misses. Most scouts consider Jackson's curveball his best offspeed pitch, though some felt his 81-84 mph changeup eclipsed it in 2015, grading as an average pitch that he doesn't use much. Jackson will compete for a middle relief role in Texas to start 2016, with a chance to pitch higher-leverage innings if he can improve his fastball command and learn to corral his breaking ball in the strike zone.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #12 prospect in 2015
  Jackson had little trouble with Double-A hitters, but once he got to Triple-A Round Rock in late June, he got hammered in nearly every appearance. The stuff is still present for Jackson, who has a strong twopitch mix in his fastball and slider. His four-seam fastball sits at 92-95 mph and hits 97, and he can miss bats with his plus breaking ball. The lack of a reliable third offering has hampered Jackson, who throws a below-average changeup. His long arm action also contributes to control issues, which got him into more trouble once he hit Triple-A. The Rangers plan to keep Jackson in the rotation, and he does have a chance to develop into a back-of-the-rotation type. Many others think his best fit is in the bullpen.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #7 prospect in 2014
  The Rangers tend to be aggressive with their prospect assignments, but Jackson has moved along at a steady pace since signing out of high school in 2010 as the No. 45 overall pick. He didn't log an ERA under 4.00 in either of his first two seasons, but he broke out in 2013, reaching Double-A Frisco in August shortly before his 22nd birthday. Jackson challenges hitters aggressively with his best pitch, a fastball that sits at 90-95 mph and reaches 97 with downhill angle. He throws a hard curveball that is inconsistent but got better toward the end of the season. His gets short with his breaking ball at times, and when he overthrows it can come out looking like a slider. His changeup was a point of emphasis this season, as it's still his No. 3 pitch and usually below-average, though it will flash average at times. Jackson has long arm action, which hinders his secondary pitches and his control, evident in his walk rate of 4.1 per nine innings in 2013. Jackson likely will return to Double-A to open 2014, where he'll focus on bringing along his offspeed stuff and throwing more strikes to reach his potential as a back-end starter, though some scouts see him better suited for bullpen work.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #6 prospect in 2013
  Jackson offered perhaps the best combination of present velocity and future projection among Florida high school arms in the 2010 draft when the Rangers snagged him with the 45th pick and paid him $1.545 million. His stuff has been more impressive than his results in pro ball, though Texas says none of its pitching prospects made more progress in 2012. Jackson can touch 97 mph and works steadily at 93-94 with his fastball, holding that velocity deep into starts and delivering the ball on a steep downhill plane. His curveball frequently features tight rotation and power, grading as a potential well above-average pitch if he learns to locate it. The changeup is a relatively new addition to his arsenal and needs further refinement. A lengthy arm action and busy delivery affect Jackson's fastball command and contribute to his curve squirting out of his hand when he holds the ball too long in an effort to generate spin. He leans backward at his balance point and often fails to transfer his weight up front, blocking off the extension in his delivery. Jackson could grow into a No. 2 starter or shutdown reliever, and he ought to get his first taste of Double-A at some point in 2013.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #18 prospect in 2012
  Jackson didn't get the same attention as fellow Sunshine State prep products Karsten Whitson and A.J. Cole, but he offered better pure velocity and arguably more projection than any Florida high schooler in the 2010 draft class. Jackson didn't start pitching seriously until he was a high school freshman. Rangers scouts liked his athleticism and big arm, so they took him with a supplemental first-rounder and signed him for $1.545 million. After beginning 2011 in extended spring training, he made his pro debut in low Class A, where his performance was inconsistent but his stuff was steady. Jackson's fastball sits at 91-94 mph and touches 97, and his quick arm action produces late jump. His curveball is a plus pitch at times, especially when he stays on top of it and tightens its rotation. He also has a changeup with solid potential. With a high leg kick and hand break, Jackson has a rocking delivery that creates some deception, though he needs to repeat it better and not slow down while throwing his secondary pitches. He has a lot of work to do with his control and command. Jackson could profile as a No. 2 starter if everything breaks right. He'll advance to high Class A this year.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #21 prospect in 2011
  The athletic Jackson didn't start pitching seriously until his freshman year in high school, and his fastball sat at 87-91 mph when he was a junior. His velocity jumped last spring, and the Rangers saw him at 93-96 at his best. They bought him out of a commitment to Miami with a $1.545 million bonus in the supplemental first round. Jackson flashed 93-94 mph heat in instructional league while usually working at 91-92. Jackson's electric fastball is his best pitch, and his hard breaking ball is promising, though still a work in progress. He also has some feel for a nascent changeup. Jackson still is learning to harness his pitches, and he'll need to add strength in order to improve his durability. He has the makings of a good delivery, but his mechanics can be inconsistent. Jackson is a strong competitor with plenty of intelligence and aptitude. He has loads of upside and projection but a ways to go. Texas typically holds back its high school pitchers in extended spring training and sends them to Spokane in their first full pro season, and Jackson figures to follow that model.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #7 prospect in 2014
  Jackson earned a late call to Frisco in 2013 and struck out 30 of the 103 batters he faced. He picked up where left off this season, overwhelming hitters with one of the best fastballs in the league. Jackson comes after hitters with a 95-97 mph heater that features plenty of life. "It's a four-seam, over-the-top, hit-it-if-you-can type of fastball," Frisco manager Jason Wood said. And most opponents couldn't catch up to it. Jackson struck out 8.96 batters per nine innings, which would have topped the league had he thrown enough innings to qualify. The development of his secondary pitches will dictate his future, though. Jackson's curveball can be a true 12-6 hammer, but he lacks consistency with the offering. He tends to get in trouble when he speeds up his delivery and gets his weight out front. His changeup remains a work in progress. He likes to challenge hitters up in the zone and that may have gotten him in trouble when he got hit hard following a midseason promotion to Triple-A Round Rock.
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  Ranked Carolina League #9 prospect in 2013
  Jackson showed off one above-average pitch, a 92-95 mph fastball, throughout his time in the CL and began to show feel for a second one in a hammer curveball before earning a promotion to Double-A at the end of July. That fastball was all Jackson needed to overwhelm high Class A hitters. The 45th overall pick in 2010, he maintains his velocity deep into games and his fastball comes at hitters from a downhill plane. League observers loved Jackson?s passion for competition. He?s an aggressive pitcher who challenges hitters with high fastballs, though that?s something he may not get away with at higher levels. Late in the season Jackson began to show improved feel for his curveball, which at its best is a true 12-to-6 hammer in the low 80s. His changeup remains a work in progress, and a long arm action hinders the development of both secondary pitches and also leads to an elevated walk rate.
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  Ranked Carolina League #16 prospect in 2012
  Jackson may lack consistency, but he has the makings of two above-average pitches. He throws his 92-95 mph fastball on a tough downhill plane, and his curveball is a true 12-to-6 hammer than can be an out pitch. When he's on--such as when he struck out 12 in five innings against Wilmington on July 17--the fastball and curve are all he needs. Jackson still lacks feel for a changeup and often battles his control and command; his career walk rate is near five per nine innings. There's some effort to his delivery, which needs some fine-tuning. Some CL observers believe he'll fit best as a late-inning reliever, perhaps even as a closer.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Jackson offered perhaps the best combination of present velocity and future projection among Florida high school arms in the 2010 draft when the Rangers snagged him with the 45th pick and paid him $1.545 million. His stuff has been more impressive than his results in pro ball, though Texas says none of its pitching prospects made more progress in 2012 than he did. Scouting Report: Jackson can touch 97 mph and works steadily at 93-94 with his fastball, holding that velocity deep into starts and delivering the ball on a steep downhill plane. His curveball frequently features tight rotation and power, grading as a potential well above-average pitch if he learns to locate it. The changeup is a relatively new addition to his arsenal and needs further refinement. A lengthy arm action and busy delivery affect Jackson's fastball command and contribute to his curve squirting out of his hand when he holds the ball too long in an effort to generate spin. He leans backward at his balance point and often fails to transfer his weight up front, blocking off the extension in his delivery and finish on his pitches. The Future: With a surefire major league arm, Jackson could grow into a No. 2 starter or shutdown reliever. He ought to get his first taste of Double-A at some point in 2013.