The Reds signed catcher Alex Jackson to a minors deal, as per Jackson’s MLB.com profile page. While not specified, the contract presumably includes an invitation for Jackson to attend Cincinnati’s big league spring camp. Jackson chose to become a minor league free agent last month after he was outrighted off the Rays’ 40-man roster in September.
A veteran of five Major League seasons, Jackson’s 58 games and 155 plate appearances last year represented a new career high for the backstop, though he did very little with the opportunity. Jackson hit only .122/.201/.237 over those 155 PA, with his 29 wRC+ was a whopping 71 percent below the league-average 100 wRC+ threshold. These numbers essentially matched Jackson’s career .132/.224/.232 slash line in 340 PA with the Rays, Brewers, Marlins, and Braves.
It has been something of an unexpected career arc for Jackson, whose was seen as something of a hit-first catcher when the Mariners selected him sixth overall in the 2014 draft. Jackson instead morphed into a quality defensive backstop who has simply been unable to hit big league pitching. The Rays were content enough with Jackson’s defense to give him semi-regular playing time in 2024, but finally moved on by removing him from their 40-man roster in September.
Cincinnati declined its club option on Luke Maile and Austin Wynns became a minor league free agency after the season, leaving the Reds in sore need for a backup catcher to spell starter Tyler Stephenson. Jackson and Stephenson are the only catchers in the organization with any MLB experience, and it is likely the Reds will bring in one or two more catchers to compete with Jackson in Spring Training.
He seems like a pretty average defensive catcher if you look at his stats, and an even worse offensive one. If they are going to go all-in on the defesnsive first backup catcher role, than they should try a little bit harder on acquiring someone with that history.
He is bottom of the barrel as a hitter, not to be confused with barreling a ball. There are plenty of fine defensive catchers who can hit 0.180 and be an upgrade on lack-of-action-Jackson.
Alex Amazing has a .851 OPS in six seasons at AAA and a .456 OPS in five MLB seasons. I wonder how many players in MLB history have a .395 OPS differential between AAA and MLB???
Look up any AAAA type player and you probably see that. There’s a reason those guys don’t stick in the bigs.
Went to a game with my son this year…at Skydome… was tellin him about how this Jackson guy was a major flop…can’t hit… hit a hr on next pitch… lol
Except that he hit his 3 HR this season at Tropicana Field (2) and Yankee Stadium (1) and has never homered at Skydome or Rogers Center. But you’re right about the “can’t hit” part.
You are right…my memory…age and so many games etc…but for sure he hit a blast for a double that almost went out. …you might remember…maybe in june? appreciate the post and memory jogging
There is the Mendoza line, and then after that is the Jackson line.
I think catchers should have the Maldonado line?
Good luck guy stinks
Tucker Barnhart wasn’t available?
Jackson was a major prospect as a high schooler ahead of the 2014 draft. I remember the hype. He was expected to move to OF as a bat first kind of prospect. And now it’s his glove at C that is keeping him employed.
Will follow the previous great hitting Reds catcher…Chuckie Robinson..lol
The typical AAAA catcher they always bring to spring.
Rejoice, Rays fans! He’s gone!!!!!
Now if they can just ship out Walls, we may get back up to being a below average offense.
Yes!!!! BTW, I felt the same way in the late ‘90’s about Yan and Dennis Springer. Every game I went to it seemed like they were pitching and giving up Homers.
How does this guy continue to get jobs?? He must have an awesome agent.
Because he’s a modern MLB GM “cheap controllable player they can easily take off the books” in analytics-speak type of guy.
This is the move I was hoping the Reds would make. He is a good defensive catcher and can hit occasionally. Now, acquire a sixth outfielder and bring on Spring Training.
Alex Jackson ain’t no Jackson Miller. But then Jackson Miller never became the Jackson Miller Reds fans all anticipate when drafted. Shows the misfortune Reds have had in findng catching talent. Of course they did draft (Rule 5) Blake Sabol a couple years ago- and promptly trades him to the Giants for Jake Wong and chump change. Sabol is now Giants 3rd string catcher behind Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy. And Giants have 2 catching prospects (1 is ther #20 prospect) who are exposed to this years Rule 5 draft. Wonder what the Reds would have to give up to get Sabol back?
If this is their idea of a better backup catcher, they might as well have kept Maile.