Brett Jackson has 39 strikeouts in June. That’s good for a strikeout rate much closer to 50% than any prospect should have. No one can succeed when he is striking out that often. And yet … Jackson is having the best month of his year. He already has five home runs and we’ve still got a week to play. His slash line reads .291/.371/.581. That’s right, he is striking out at a horrifying pace and still has an on base percentage over .370.
This is not supposed to happen. If we ignored the strike outs Jackson would look like a guy in the middle of a breakout. He looks like a guy who could surge his way into an August call up and who could spend the final seven weeks of the season starting in the majors. But if we look at just the strike outs, he resembles something from the Hall of Baseball Horrors. It is extremely rare to find a player with an OBP that tells one story and a strikeout rate that tells another story to this degree.
In just over three weeks he will have crossed the 162 game mark, and that means we have to consider the possibility he could be called up. I’m really not sure what fans will make of him if that happens. I think his defense and his daily effort will win people over, but I’m not sure about the bat. Will Cubs fans welcome a guy for whom a good game could include two strikeouts, a double, a walk, and a stolen base? Before this season is over we may have our answer.
Scores From Yesterday
Iowa – Iowa had more hits than Round Rock, but they still lost 5-2.
Tennessee – Bad weather suspended the Smokies game in the top of the third. It will be resumed from that point today (weather permitting).
Daytona – The Daytona game was postponed due to bad weather. The Cubs will play a doubleheader on Monday.
Peoria – Peoria won a wild offensive show case by a final of 12-11.
Boise – Four separate players homered as the he Hawks’ hitters carried the team to a 14-11 win.
Arizona – The Arizona Cubs had Sunday off.
Performances of the Day
Other Minor League Notes
Farm System Standings
AAA – Iowa Cubs : 32 – 45.
Pacific Coast League American Northern Division – Second Place: 14.0 Games Behind.
AA – Tennessee Smokies : 2-1
Southern League North Division – First Place : 0.5 Games Ahead
High A – Daytona Cubs : 2-1
Florida State League North Division – Second Place (tie) : 0.0 Games Ahead
Low A – Peoria Chiefs : 1-2
Midwest League Eastern Division – Third Place : 2.0 Games Behind
Short-Season A – Boise Hawks : 4 – 6
Northwest League East Division – Second Place : 1.0 Game Behind
Rookie League – AZL Cubs : 3 – 1
Arizona Rookie League East – Second Place : 0.5 Game Behind