Bralin Jackson

BRALIN JACKSON, CENTER FIELDER
Born: December 2, 1993
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 183
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Drafted: 5th Round, 182nd Overall, 2012 (Rays)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
High School: Raytown (MO) South HS
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
The Rays drafted Jackson as an athletic outfielder with good speed and the bat speed to give him power potential.  He was considered raw at the time.  He’s also an example of the unusual combination of a right-handed hitter but left-handed thrower.  Jackson mostly struggled for five years before the Rays released him.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal after he spent a year in independent ball.

2012
R:  253/286/342, 146 AB, 5 2B, 4 3B, 6 BB, 39 K, 5-8 SB

Jackson got off to a rough start, with significant swing-and-miss problems.  The Rays played him mainly in center.  Baseball America rated him the 27th best prospect in the Rays’ system after the season.

2013
R+:  216/281/299, 231 AB, 4 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 19 BB, 56 K, 11-16 SB

The Rays moved Jackson up only to advanced rookie ball, where he continued to struggle.

2014
A-:  279/349/384, 229 AB, 13 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 25 BB, 64 K, 17-21 SB

Jackson remained in short season ball, but this time made some progress.  He still wasn’t showing much power and still struck out a lot.

2015
A:  274/337/356, 413 AB, 19 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 37 BB, 84 K, 14-30 SB

Jackson finally got to full season ball and hit about the same as the previous year, although he did cut back on the strikeouts.  For some reason, he had a lot more trouble in steal attempts.

2016
R:  364/417/500, 22 AB, 3 2B, 2 BB, 4 K, 0-2 SB
A+:  219/276/288, 233 AB, 7 2B, 3 HR, 18 BB, 59 K, 6-11 SB

The Rays moved Jackson up to high A and he struggled badly.  He also missed two months late in the season with a lower body injury.  Tampa released him after the season.

2017
IND:  294/325/477, 388 AB, 17 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 18 BB, 69 K, 8-10 SB

Jackson signed with Washington of the independent Frontier League.  He started hitting for power for the first time and generally ht much better, with a lower K rate.  He didn’t walk much, though.

2018
AA:  214/256/301, 206 AB, 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 11 BB, 63 K, 5-8 SB

Jackson opened 2018 in extended spring training.  He joined Altoona after Bryan Reynolds had hamate surgery and played regularly through the beginning of August.  At that point, he went on the disabled list with a quad strain.  Jackson hit very little, struggling to make contact and showing little patience.

2019
AA:  257/299/320, 272 AB, 13 2B, 2 3B, 16 BB, 71 K, 7-9 SB

Jackson served as a fourth outfielder at Altoona, playing all three spots.  He hit a little better than the previous year, but not well.

Jackson will become a free agent in the fall.  There’s no particular reason for the Pirates to bring him back.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2019: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $322,500
MiLB Debut: 2012
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2019
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2018
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 5, 2012: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 5th round, 182nd overall pick; signed on June 12.
December 14, 2016: Released by the Tampa Bay Rays.
November 29, 2017: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.