The New York Mets traded future Hall of Fame pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer for top-level minor-league prospects at the MLB trade deadline. MLBbro Tommy Pham, who unexpectedly became one of the Mets best players this year, was also traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a prospect, leaving the franchise without any MLBbros left on the 40-man roster.
Until they dealt reliever Dominic Leone to the Los Angeles Angels for infield prospect Jeremiah Jackson.
If you haven’t heard of Jackson, just check out his highlights, he’s a very intriguing prospect. The 2018 Alabama “Mr. Baseball” has displayed above average pop for a shortstop with 15 bombs for the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
His 21 stolen bases on the season indicate it would be wise to monitor him when he gets on bases. The power and speed Jeremiah has in his game just happens to be two of the Mets biggest weaknesses. They lack dynamic, skill players that winning franchises like the Atlanta Braves boast.
Via MLB.com: “The Angels’ second-round pick in the 2018 Draft, Jackson …has teased with his offensive potential, particularly his power, since signing. He set the bar high when his 23 homers established a Pioneer League record in 2019, with injuries and inconsistencies slowing him since. He missed a good chunk of time in 2021, his full-season debut, with a quad injury and then an oblique strain forced him out for a month and a half in 2022. The Angels didn’t protect him on the 40-man roster and he wasn’t selected in the Rule 5 Draft. He was back to being healthy and was a league-average bat for Double-A Rocket City in 2023 before he was traded to the Mets.
Jackson still has the loud, albeit raw, tools that made him a second-round pick. He’s capable of leaving the yard in any plate appearance. The ball jumps off his bat, and even with the time missed and some issues with his overall approach, he still hit 24 homers in 136 combined games in 2021 and 2022. He has wiry strength with bat speed and loft, with the power especially to his pull side. He did cut down his strikeouts in 2022, but his ability to make consistent hard contact still has not shown up”.
Leone, was 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 31 games for New York this season. Getting a talent such as Jeremiah Jackson back in this trade is something to look out for. Fans of the team may end up looking back at this trade fondly, believing they got a steal. If he can add contact skills to his power and athleticism, the Mets will find a spot for him on the big league roster.
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