Atlanta Braves right-handed relief pitcher, Luke Jackson, returns to the Braves
By Jeff Schafer
Braves Jackson returns with the Braves
On December 20, 2017 the Atlanta Braves removed relief pitcher Luke Jackson from the 40-man roster. The move was made in order to make room for recently acquired outfielder Preston Tucker. For me, the move was definitely a head-scratcher.
Dropping Jackson from the 40-man roster was questionable at the time because other moves could have been moved…aka Adonis Garcia. Now it could have been a move that made sense within the Braves walls because of the Korea deal with Garcia, but to us, I’m not sure we understand it.
Also, Rex Brothers is still on the 40-man roster…?? Someone must see potential in him to return to his previous pitching abilities.
After clearing waivers, Jackson has returned to the Braves and has been outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Though Jackson posted a 4.62 ERA in 43 appearances in 2017, I saw him a plausible asset to our future bullpen. 2017 was his first full season as a big leaguer — he appeared in seven games in 2015 and eight games in 2016 with the Texas Rangers — and at the All-Star break he held a 3.62 ERA.
Jackson’s 2017 stats with the Atlanta Braves were strange. When he didn’t have his stuff, it showed mightily. When he did have it, he was a strong pen option.
When diving into the 26-year-old’s stats with the Braves, something very unusual stuck out to me. Check this out…
Games Jackson gave up earned runs
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April 19 – gave up 2 earned runs
June 7 – gave up 1 earned run
June 10 – gave up 5 earned runs
July 4 – gave up 3 earned runs
July 22 – gave up 2 earned runs
July 26 – gave up 2 earned runs
August 16 – gave up 6 earned runs
September 2 – gave up 3 earned runs
September 30 – gave up 2 earned runs
Eight out of nine games he gave up runs, it was more than one earned run. So back to that comment, when he struggled, he struggled bad.
Also, he gave up runs in nine of the 43 games he appeared in. That’s not that bad.
The 6’2″ 210-pound righty was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1st round —45th overall — of the 2010 MLB draft. He was drafted out of Calvary Christian High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Atlanta acquired Jackson on December 8, 2016 from the Rangers for Brady Feigl and Tyrell Jenkins.
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The big righty has a powerful fastball that can hit triple digits. His fastball usually sits around 96-97 MPH. He needs to continue to develop his curveball and his change-up to succeed in the MLB.
Jackson will get an invite to the Braves 2018 Spring Training and will have a shot to earn a bullpen job. If he doesn’t get that pen job out of ST, I’m sure we’ll see Jackson again in Atlanta at some point in the 2018 season.