News
Austin Jackson Earning His (Pin)stripes in HWB
Kyle Galdeira
11/11/07
While the New York Yankees agonize over their future and
enter the offseason faced with multiple personnel adjustments, the organization
can rest assured that it has a promising young outfielder coming up the
pipeline in Austin Jackson.
The 20-year-old native of Denton, Tex.
split time in 2007 between the Charleston RiverDogs (A) and Tampa Yankees (A+)
where he posted an aggregate batting average of .304 while notching 32 doubles,
seven triples, 13 home runs along with 59 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. Despite the
strong numbers, Jackson
is using his Hawaii Winter Baseball experience as the center fielder for the
Honolulu Sharks to fine-tune his approach at the plate.
“I’m working on my timing, and just getting down in a good
position to hit, and trying to see off-speed pitches a lot better,” Jackson says. “That’s one
thing me and (Honolulu
hitting coach Torre) Tyson are working on.”
Through games played on Nov. 3, Jackson ranks first in extra-base hits (17),
runs scored (21), doubles (10) and triples (4). The Yankees farmhand also ranks
second in RBIs (20), and stolen bases (8), and is in running for HWB postseason
all-star honors.
“I just wanted to come down here and get things as close to
perfection as I can,” Jackson
says. “I know nobody’s perfect, but if I can just tweak some things that will make
me better and carry that in to next year, I know I would have accomplished
something by coming down here.”
The Yankees have not set a permanent path for Jackson to follow, and
the organization will wait until Spring Training to determine where and at
which level he will start the year.
“I’m not sure where they’re going to have me, but I’m
looking to show them that I can play with the high-level players down here,” Jackson says. “I’m just
looking to keep progressing, and hopefully I can start out at Double-A or
wherever they want me to be at.”
In the meantime, Jackson will
continue to hone his craft while patrolling the outfield of Waipahu’s Hans L’Orange Park. The 6-1,
185-pound speedster marvels at the collective talent brought together in the
HWB league, and hopes that his time in Hawaii
will improve his standing within New
York’s pool of outfielders.
“It’s great, Hawaii is not
a bad place to be for two months playing baseball,” Jackson says. “You get to see good
competition, and you’ll see some of these pitchers and players during the
season. Just (facing) the pitching has been an experience for me, I’ve never
seen so many pitchers with good arms.”
