Jesus Montero has hit five home runs over the last 4 days at AA, and seems to be having no trouble with the adjustment to a higher level. Austin Jackson, on the other hand, has some nice rate stats at AAA, but is displaying little power, striking out a ton, and has an insanely high BABIP propping up his batting average. Jim Callis mentioned both players in his recent chat:
rbizzler: Any thoughts on Jesus Montero being promoted to AA and continuing to mash? In your opinion, what should be the Yanks timetable for a position switch as the bat is light years ahead of the D?
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Jim Callis: He’s one of the very best hitters in the entire minors. Though I don’t think he’s going to catch in the big leagues, and he’s not going to displace Mark Teixeira as a first baseman. I guess they could try him in left field, but for now, I’d still be trying to see if I could make him a catcher.
Sam: Does Slade Heathcott have more upside than Austin Jackson?
Jim Callis: Yes.
As Callis states, it has become very clear that Montero has the stick to be a force in the majors. Unlike some minor league hitting phenoms who build a reputation based on power, Montero is noted for his excellent plate discipline and great batting eye. Combine that with strong contact rates and good power, and you have a bat that has a chance to be a star even in left or at first base. I would be very surprised if Montero is not in the top 15 on the major top prospect lists for 2010.
Regarding Jackson, it seems that his star has dimmed a bit in the scouting world. Keith Law recently stated that he does not see star potential in Jackson anymore, and that he profiles as a solid regular. While solid regulars are important to develop and allow the team to spend money elsewhere, that is not the kind of prospect who is untouchable in the right deal. If the club had a major injury and needed to add a middle of the order bat or top of the rotation starter, I would have no qualms trading Jackson for the right piece. It seems that in terms of value, he and Montero are moving in opposite directions.
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9 Responses to Montero And Jackson: Moving In Opposite Directions?
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The biggest problem with Jackson is he K’s too much. But he is in fact doing everything else well; stealing bases, hitting for average, playing good D, getting extra base hits.
Unlike some I’m not worried about his power. He has some pop. but he’s not going to be a power guy anyway so IMO it’s a waste of time to harp on his lack of power.
As long as he can improve his K’s and continue to hit the ball in the gap, he’ll be fine.
If he turns out to be a .280-300 40 doubles 15 hr .360 obp type of CF I’ll take it. You don’t need a ton of production out of CF. The corners are another story.
I’m not looking for star. Most prospects don’t turn out to be stars. You look for ML quality production.
His defense, by all accounts, is average. An average defender and solid hitter, while helpful, is not the kind of prospect you protect at all costs. I’m not shopping him, but I would move him in the right deal.
Curtis Granderson up to 2008 (he’s hitting for a lot more power this year) is the best comparison I’ve seen, and if we can get a guy who plays a great CF, runs, hits for a good average and a little bit of power and reaches base at a decent clip I’ll take it. We haven’t had a CF who could play the position and hold his own at the plate since Bernie in his prime.
As far as Austin Jackson goes the guy is struggling, hitting .323 while trying to change his swing to create more power. To me its like saying Bruney can’t pitch because he threw two bad innings… patience and a greater view at the big picture. A guy doesn’t hit for that average if he isn’t pretty good.
Montero, he has some time too. If he can’t be a catcher then he should DH. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to have a guy who hits like he does if nothing else. Would you sign up for a young Ortiz? Perhaps that would be a nice wish. If he can improve behind the plate though we have a star at the hardest position. Either way a lot to hope for.
I’m not saying he cannot hit or hit for power, just that he does not profile as the type of hitter who should be untouchable, as guys like Hughes and Joba were and Montero is.
What makes him untouchable is our dearth of position prospects that are close to the majors. Especially outfielders.
MonStero can’t keep this up. No 19 year old rakes AA pitching in 4 weeks. It will be something if he hits 300 in Trenton. However, if he does rake the Yankees should continue to move him up until he is challenged. All the nonsense about can’t catch is so premature.
2 things about Jackson…
1. his defense is not average… reports put him as a good defender and he has a strong arm as well (BA Prospect Handbook). Also I have seen him play live in Trenton and Scranton and can account for his defense and arm.
2. You can’t say a guy hitting .323 with 17 2B, 4 3B, 14 SB is not hitting or doing well offensively… oh and he’s 22 and still learning. Lastly he seems to have great intangibles which I for one value a great deal… we seem to have some guys with good intangibles that make a big difference over the last 15 years, (i.e. Jeter).
Don’t be so quick to believe the hype, last year everyone wrote of Phil Hughes, even before the bullpen move he was starting to come on as a starter. Kids will have bumps in the road you have to let them develop. Be patient.
Austin Jackson has been said to be a better defender than Melky Cabrera or Bret Gardner, and some believe he’s a potential gold glove calibur centerfielder in the future. Another note for Jackson he has hit 4 homeruns since the beginning of June, so the power is starting to come. Either way Jackson is more of a gap power hitter, spraying the ball to all fields which likely means regardless of the luck he has had this season he will likely be a very good contact hitter. I would expect Jackson’s stat lines to be like this once he hits the Majors: 10HR/.300BA/30SB/with gold glove defense. How couldnt you take that? I dont see super-stardom in Jackson but he will very likely be an above average solid regular in CF, which is something the Yankees would love to have. Enough with the pessimism on Jackson’s luck with making contact this season, people who watch Jackson everyday say that he has been impressive thus far, and I would take people who watch Jackson everyday over people who see him rarely or people who are stat freaks anyday.