A few notes of interest from ESPN legend Peter Gammons latest chat:
- From the sound of things, Gammons thinks Clayton Kershaw is certain to be a factor for the Dodgers this year. Their main concern is limiting his inning early so he finishes in the 150-160 IP range.
- Tigers manager Jim Leyland thinks Detroit’s first pick in the 2007 Draft, Rick Porcello, will be with the big league club some time this season.
- Gammons also notes that players like Porcello, the Yankees Austin Jackson, Andrew Brackman, and Ian Kennedy, the Red Sox Lars Anderson, Ryan Kalish, Anthony Rizzo, David Mailman, and Will Middlebrooks, will have a serious impact on this year’s draft. Of course these players are all now top prospects who were drafted way above slot in later rounds.
- Picking player comparables is always tricky business, but Gammons thinks the best comparable he’s heard for Yankees SP Ian Kennedy is the Blue Jays SP Shaun Marcum.
MLB Prospect News on March 24th 2008 in 1B, 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, 2B, 3B, Andrew Brackman, Anthony Rizzo, Austin Jackson, Clayton Kershaw, David Mailman, Dodgers Prospects, Ian Kennedy, Lars Anderson, MLBPN Top Prospects, OF, P, RP, Red Sox Prospects, Rick Porcello, Ryan Kalish, SP, Tigers Prospects, Top 5 Prospects, Will Middlebrooks, Yankees Prospects
Lisa Winston of MLB.com reports that New York Yankees CF prospect, Austin Jackson, is skyrocketing up the depth chart and is likely to begin the season at AA-Trenton. This is a huge promotion for the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, who only played 67 games for A-Tampa last season (although he did hit .345 in those 67 games). For more information about Baseball America’s #41 prospect, you can hear details straight to the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Jackson will be one of six players keeping a regular online journal this season, which you can find on MiLB.com.
“Best athlete in the organization.” That’s how the legendary Yankee Reggie Jackson described OF prospect Austin Jackson after he made a shoelace catch in Saturday’s game. This according to Tyler Kepner of The New York Times. Despite his lofty compliments, Reggie thinks that we won’t see Austin Jackson in the Bronx until 2010. Still, this is an incredibly gifted athlete, and someone worth watching.
MLB Prospect News on March 2nd 2008 in Austin Jackson, OF, Yankees Prospects
If he can continue to produce on the farm, New York Yankees OF Austin Jackson feels he can be ready for major league action by 2009. Ranked the #41 prospect by Baseball America, the speedy Texas-native could definitely create waves in the veteran Yankee outfield. After hitting .345 with 15 2B and 10 HR in low-A ball in the Florida State League, he was promoted to AA-Trenton, where he will most likely start the 2008 season. As of right now, there is no need to worry about him for fantasy purposes.
mikey on February 29th 2008 in Austin Jackson, OF, Yankees Prospects
